Found Deceased OR - Kendra Hanks, 18, walking from work along Hwy 42 towards Winston, Douglas Co, 7 Jul 2022 *arrest*

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I had hoped there would be new information by now. I had a question and kept forgetting to ask: Does Kendra have brown hair currently or is her hair the bright red/pink color from the other picture? If it's red/pink it should make it easier for identification. If not then I get why it's taking a while. I hope it's not her but that means someone else lost their life and that is terribly sad. She is so young. I am sending every bit of positive energy and juju in to the universe hoping for a happy ending to this story. Where are you Kendra?
I believe it’s brown because it is brown in this article
4A820580-7B38-476D-A1D3-58D851F7DFF7.jpeg
 

KENDRA HANKS INVESTIGATION​


- July 20, 2022
Douglas Co. Sheriff's Office

ROSEBURG, Ore
. - The Douglas County Sheriff's Office continues the investigation into the missing person case of Kendra Hanks and requests the public's assistance with information.

Hanks was reported missing on July 8, 2022, by her family after she didn't arrive home from her place of employment. Hanks was last seen walking past B&D Meats on Highway 42 near Grange Road at approximately 4:00 pm.

Since her disappearance, the Sheriff's Office has been tirelessly searching for information. Early on, the Sheriff's Office enlisted the assistance of the Douglas County Search and Rescue, the FBI, and the Douglas County Major Crimes Team, which consists of investigators from the Sheriff's Office, Roseburg Police Department and Oregon State Police and in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.

Those who live in the area or were traveling through on July 7th are urged to call (541) 440-4471 with any information which may be helpful to investigators. Reviewing video surveillance systems and dash cameras could provide valuable clues which will assist in solving the case. Residents can upload video or photographic footage by going to www.dcso.com/publichelp.

Hanks is described as a white female adult who is 5'02" tall, weighing 140lbs with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last known to be wearing a dark hoodie, jeans, yellow checkered Vans shoes and carrying a black backpack purse.

In order to protect the integrity of the investigation, additional details will not be made public at this time.

 
You can set the booking from date as 7/15 and then booking to date to 7/17 -- just leave all of the other fields blank.

I see multiple people booked today... none of the ones I looked at had anything listed as charges that seemed like it would be connected though... there's one that has unlawful use of a weapon... MAYBE related??

Oh my, I googled that person's name and found they've been previously in prison for murder in Oregon. SJH initials for anyone looking, being held without bail. Not sure if it's allowed to link to the MSM article since this person is not a POI or suspect in this case. It's literally the first result on Google if you Google their full name though.
This same person is being held with no bail on most of the charges and was arrested on 7/15/22
 
ROSEBURG, Ore. — A Riddle man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Kendra Hanks of Winston, the Douglas County Sheriff's Office said Thursday evening.

Around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, detectives and investigators from the Douglas County Major Crimes Team contacted 39-year-old Troy Russell Phelps of Riddle at a residence in the 1500-block of Pruner Road in Riddle.

Phelps had become a person of interest in the investigation into the disappearance of Hanks.

Phelps was taken into custody after speaking with detectives.

A search warrant was also executed at the residence where Phelps was residing.
On Wednesday, July 13, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Sheriff's Office was notified of a deceased person found in Cow Creek around the 9000-block of Cow Creek Road.

"Investigators responded to the scene and confirmed the death of an adult female, which is suspected to be Kendra Hanks," the Sheriff's Office said. "The body was transported to the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office on Thursday, July 14, 2022. The death was ultimately ruled a homicide. Sheriff's Office is awaiting positive identification from the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office."
 
"The body was transported to the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office on Thursday, July 14, 2022. The death was ultimately ruled a homicide. Sheriff's Office is awaiting positive identification from the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office."
RSBBM
Wow. No ID confirmation for over a week now.

At least the suspect is in custody.

Very sad news. RIP Kendra.
 
So, looks like he was found "not guilty" for the murder; there were other charges (kidnapping, arson, possession of firearm by felon) that he was found guilty of -- then served nearly seven years. Reading between the lines on account of paywall.

I was wondering how he got such a light sentence for a murder -- but he was found not guilty of the murder.

Here's an article, but it was prior to his trial/sentencing for the 2017 charges:


From 2017: "Phelps is charged with murder, first degree kidnapping, menacing, felon in possession of a firearm, coercion and second degree arson."
 

On Tuesday, Simmons sentenced Phelps for reckless burning (downgraded from first-degree arson) and two counts of a felon in possession of a firearm. The burning charge was related to setting a vehicle on fire at Lawson Bar in the early morning hours of May 31. The vehicle belonged to [M] and [KV].

[snip]

In July, Phelps waived his right to a jury trial in favor of a bench trial, meaning only the presiding judge would pass judgment on his fate.

According to Simmons’ summation, it was evident that the state’s key witness, [KV], had provided contradictory or further unexplainable testimony, which made it even more difficult to come to a guilty verdict.


The following is a summary to avoid quoting too much. He was sentenced to 69 months, of which 54 months was the firearms charge. He was eligible for time served of 42 months, but the article notes that the Dept. of Corrections had discretion to reduce the time served further.

My calculation is: 69-42 = 27 months. Using a start time of December 2020, that would still mean a release date of March 2023, so another 8 months (at least) of credit?
 
www.koin.com/news/oregon/ex-prisoner-files-2-6m-lawsuit-against-douglas-county-for-traumatic-catheter-issue/amp/

Just wondering...have they said anything about a sexual assault in this case?

3 months ago TRP filed a lawsuit against Douglas Co for issues arising during his previous incarceration. The lawsuit, amongst other things says he has "lost all function of his penis for bodily and sexual purposes"
His injuries sound gruesome, so I doubt it. Apparently he was still able to troll for victims.

What a tragedy this young woman became one.
 
Has it been stated what Kendra's relationship to this person is? It would seem, given his criminal history, that he's a predator of opportunity (and thus is a total stranger to her) but I don't feel like that's been clarified.
 
www.koin.com/news/oregon/ex-prisoner-files-2-6m-lawsuit-against-douglas-county-for-traumatic-catheter-issue/amp/

Just wondering...have they said anything about a sexual assault in this case?

3 months ago TRP filed a lawsuit against Douglas Co for issues arising during his previous incarceration. The lawsuit, amongst other things says he has "lost all function of his penis for bodily and sexual purposes"
OOF.
Murderer or not, prisons and jails should be held 100% accountable for medically traumatizing and harming any patients/prisoners. Messing with someone's urinary system is no joke, it can be so incredibly, negatively, life-changing. It's more painful than you'd guess. Imagine the worst UTI pain x 100 and that's just the start of what ureter/urethral pain feels like, in my opinion.

Anyways -

From link: Court documents show Phelps is currently out of prison and staying with his brother.
I wonder if his brother had anything to do with him being caught for this crime. Perhaps he came home a mess or asked for help with Kendra, etc.

I wonder what the motive is here or if they knew eachother.

Interesting comments at link below regarding the political climate of that area, and how the area officials aren't tough enough on crime in the opinion of many.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office
RIDDLE, Ore. - A Riddle man has been arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Kendra Hanks of Winston.

On Thursday, July 21, 2022, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Detectives with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office along with investigators from the Douglas County Major Crimes Team contacted 39-year-old Troy Russell Phelps of Riddle at a residence in the 1500-block of Pruner Road in Riddle. Phelps had become a person of interest in the investigation into the disappearance of Hanks.

Phelps was taken into custody after speaking with Detectives. A search warrant was also executed at the residence where Phelps was residing.

On Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Sheriff's Office was notified of a deceased person found in Cow Creek in approximately the 9000-block of Cow Creek Road. Investigators responded to the scene and confirmed the death of an adult female, which is suspected to be Kendra Hanks.

The body was transported to the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office on Thursday, July 14, 2022. The death was ultimately ruled a homicide. Sheriff's Office is awaiting positive identification from the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office.

The Sheriff's Office has been and continues to be in communication with Hanks' mother, who is aware of the latest developments in the case.

Phelps was transported to and lodged in the Douglas County Jail on charges of Murder in the First Degree and Resisting Arrest.

Additional details surrounding the investigation will be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Anyone with information that would aid investigators is urged to contact the Sheriff's Office at (541) 440-4464 referencing case #22-2871.

The Douglas County Major Crimes Team consists of investigators from the Sheriff's Office, Roseburg Police Department and Oregon State Police working in consultation with the Douglas County District Attorney's Office.
 

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