OR Sharon Ryan, 17, raped/murdered, found in parking lot,Portland, 16 Dec. 1976

[Patti Lukrofka]

Welcome to Ws metamarama, intriguing line of thought!

I am new to Sharon’s case but knew her in middle school. These other murders are important to her case. I am now researching which store she bought the eggs from and retracing her steps.

 

[Patti Lukrofka]

Welcome to Ws metamarama, intriguing line of thought!

I am new to Sharon’s case but knew her in middle school.

Thanks. I was also able to find some old yearbook photos of her as well, and I uploaded a few to her findagrave memorial. This poor girl, her story breaks my heart. She was killed right up the street from where I live now, and I have daughters the age she was when she was murdered.

These other murders are important to her case. I am now researching which store she bought the eggs from and retracing her steps.

Perhaps a good question to ask the cold case detectives is why they did not follow up on the people who HEARD the attack, her screaming for help, who hid behind their shades/curtains and dare I say it...WATCHED...but to understand how badly the dropped the ball??? Ask them WHY THEY CHANGED IT FROM CLOSED TO COLD IN 2007-2008. Aren't you curious about THAT???

I’ve been wondering these same questions! Someone knows something. It was not uncommon for perpetrators to fall through the cracks during that era. Many cases were botched. I believe we need to put the pressure on to re open her case.

 

[Patti Lukrofka]

Welcome to Ws metamarama, intriguing line of thought!

I am new to Sharon’s case but knew her in middle school.

Thanks. I was also able to find some old yearbook photos of her as well, and I uploaded a few to her findagrave memorial. This poor girl, her story breaks my heart. She was killed right up the street from where I live now, and I have daughters the age she was when she was murdered.

These other murders are important to her case. I am now researching which store she bought the eggs from and retracing her steps.

Perhaps a good question to ask the cold case detectives is why they did not follow up on the people who HEARD the attack, her screaming for help, who hid behind their shades/curtains and dare I say it...WATCHED...but to understand how badly the dropped the ball??? Ask them WHY THEY CHANGED IT FROM CLOSED TO COLD IN 2007-2008. Aren't you curious about THAT???

I’ve been wondering these same questions! Someone knows something. It was not uncommon for perpetrators to fall through the cracks during that era. Many cases were botched. I believe we need to put the pressure on to re open her case.

 

[Patti Lukrofka]

Thanks for posting these. I just listened to the segment about Sharon on the Misconduct podcast and became curious, since I lived in the 2200 block of NE Flanders when I moved to Portland in 1999. In the 12/22/76 piece by Connie Hofferber "Tragedy Scene Not Ominous" (pdf 5), there's a standout sentence: "Portland police say the area is not in a high-crime neighborhood, but since 1973 there have been four unsolved murders involving girls who were strangled." Kind of seems like something the police might have wanted to look into. Did they? I would like to know more about the other murders - is it possible there was a serial killer operating in Kerns in that time period? Were there similar murders after Sharon's?

I tried to locate the piece by Connie Hofferber but couldn’t find it. Was this a newspaper article? Could you share it please?

 

[TedMac]

Gray Hughes Investigates...

 

[Richard]

45 Years missing...

Sharon Ryan, age 17
Murdered 16 December 1976

 

[metamarama]

I tried to locate the piece by Connie Hofferber but couldn’t find it. Was this a newspaper article? Could you share it please?

Sorry for the delayed response - I haven't been on here in awhile. That article is in pdf 5 uploaded by heathermarie87 on 3/31/21. Scroll to the bottom of the page. I tried to message the writer of the piece, Connie Hofferber, on FB, but she never replied.

 

[Grayman]

Hello, this case was brought to my attention, and I've been looking into it very heavily, I even went to the Multnomah library to see if I could uncover anything interesting, but not much luck so far. I plan on trying the Portland archives next, but doubt I will get anything too useful. I am still an amateur with this kind of stuff, but was wondering if anyone knew any easy ways to get documents such as old maps, old city blue prints such as sewage tunnels and buildings, old building directories, or even old divorce or court files. Even then, I don't know how much those will help, honestly I think the best route would be finding out about the other cases of girls being strangled. I will be going through old news articles and scouting for possible matches, and will post any findings.

 

[dotr]

Hello, this case was brought to my attention, and I've been looking into it very heavily, I even went to the Multnomah library to see if I could uncover anything interesting, but not much luck so far. I plan on trying the Portland archives next, but doubt I will get anything too useful. I am still an amateur with this kind of stuff, but was wondering if anyone knew any easy ways to get documents such as old maps, old city blue prints such as sewage tunnels and buildings, old building directories, or even old divorce or court files. Even then, I don't know how much those will help, honestly I think the best route would be finding out about the other cases of girls being strangled. I will be going through old news articles and scouting for possible matches, and will post any findings.

Welcome to Ws Grayman!
Possibly some info within these links..

Welcome to the City of Portland Archives & Records Center (PARC)

www.portlandoregon.gov

PortlandMaps: Advanced

www.portlandmaps.com

 

[Kell1]

Was it ever revealed how she was killed ?

 

[dotr]

Was it ever revealed how she was killed ?

Cannot seem to find any reports indicating manner of death, although there was/is a RUMOUR that her neck was cut with a piece of glass. imo, speculation.

 

[Kell1]

Cannot seem to find any reports indicating manner of death, although there was/is a RUMOUR that her neck was cut with a piece of glass. imo, speculation.

The entire thing seems impulsive if that was indeed how she was killed that would further my suspicion.

 

[Grayman]

The entire thing seems impulsive if that was indeed how she was killed that would further my suspicion.

Actually it appears the cause of death was strangulation with her own jeans, although she did have cuts on the left side of her throat. Possibly a left handed individual?

 

[Grayman]

Cannot seem to find any reports indicating manner of death, although there was/is a RUMOUR that her neck was cut with a piece of glass. imo, speculation.

Interesting, where did you find this rumor?

 

[dotr]

Interesting, where did you find this rumor?

Lol. you tell me where you found yours and i will tell you where i read it!
Welcome to Ws!

 

[Richard]

The entire thing seems impulsive if that was indeed how she was killed that would further my suspicion.

I agree that the attack seems to have been impulsive and a random crime of opportunity.

Even if the killer might have met or known Sharon before, the circumstances of her suddenly leaving home for a dozen eggs at the store could not possibly have been part of the killer's "plan".

It would seem that the killer did not have a vehicle, or he would have used it to abduct and transport his victim.

 

[Grayman]

Lol. you tell me where you found yours and i will tell you where i read it!
Welcome to Ws!

Thank you! And on here actually, someone shared old articles that I was able to find later on the Multnomah county library's website. It won't let me upload it for some reason so here is a screenshot. I haven't gone through everything yet, but this seems to be the general consensus.

 

[dotr]

Thank you! And on here actually, someone shared old articles that I was able to find later on the Multnomah county library's website. It won't let me upload it for some reason so here is a screenshot. I haven't gone through everything yet, but this seems to be the general consensus.View attachment 349667

Awesome, thank you for that, will try and find the link unless you have it handy.

 

[Grayman]

Awesome, thank you for that, will try and find the link unless you have it handy.

OR - Sharon Ryan, 17, raped/murdered, found in parking lot,Portland, 16 Dec. 1976

At the ti.e she was murdered Jefferson was the "Performing Arts" school. She was living with her sister because it was closer. And whoever asked if I could post the pictures I have? I am uncomfortable doing that. I can tell you they were printed in the paper. I believe "The Oregonian" but there...

www.websleuths.com

That should work, sorry, not the most tech savvy individual. Now where did you hear about the weapon being a piece of glass?