According to court documents, on the morning of Jan. 29, a Skamania County road department worker was driving on East Loop Road when he spotted a Kia Soul stuck in the snow.
A man, later identified as French, got out of the Soul and approached the worker. He appeared to be under the influence and asked for a ride to his cousin’s house nearby.
The cousin told police that French was wearing only a light jacket, appeared to have injured hands, and had car keys and a pack of beer.
French couldn’t explain why he was out in the weather, according to his cousin.
Portland police later confirmed the car belonged to French’s fiancée, Jeannie Enyeart, the registered owner of the vehicle.
That day, Enyeart’s son reported her missing, saying he hadn’t heard from her in two days and was suspicious of French.
When police spoke with French, he said he had last seen Enyeart on Jan. 28 and claimed a drug dealer named Julius had either kidnapped her or that she went there voluntarily.
However, neighbors told police that French and Enyeart fought frequently and that they last saw her in a car with French on the night of Jan. 27.
Enyeart’s body was found in rural Skamania County in January 2024.
ktvl.com