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

[dotr]

SHARON RYAN | Unsolved Cold Cases | The City of Portland, Oregon
SHARON RYAN

Case #76-96386

View KPTV's story on this Cold Case.

On December 16, 1976, 17-year old Sharon Ryan was making cookies at her sister’s house in the 2400 block of NE Flanders. Sharon realized that there were no eggs at her sister’s house and that she needed some for the cookie recipe. She told her sister that she was going to walk to a nearby store to buy eggs and would be right back. She never returned.

When Sharon had not returned in about a half-hour, her sister became alarmed and began to search the neighborhood with her husband. After searching for approximately one-and-a-half hours, they called the police and made out a missing report on Sharon. Sharon’s sister told the police that Sharon was a high school senior at Grant High School, was very reliable and had never done anything like this before.

On December 18, 1976, friends and family of Sharon Ryan again searched the area and a friend found an egg carton and broken eggs in a parking lot near Sharon’s home. Sharon’s body was subsequently found in an isolated, grassy area next to the parking lot and had been partially covered with plant material. Portland Police responded to the scene and an autopsy revealed that Sharon had been sexually assaulted and died from homicidal violence.

Witnesses may contact Cold Case Homicide Unit investigators directly at (503) 823-0400. To remain anonymous, witnesses may provide information through Crime Stoppers of Oregon.

Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime and tipsters can remain anonymous.

Information about this case or any unsolved felony crime may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,500.

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Call 503-823-HELP (4357).

 

[dotr]

Dec 16 2019

 

[Kdot222]

I found photos in my deceased Dad’s photo albums that look very similar to her. He was living in Portland at that time. I have been trying to research this case, but there’s not a lot out there. I would love additional photos of Sharon for comparison or any additional information about her.

 

[Richard]

Dec 16, 2019
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — On the 43rd anniversary of a teen’s disappearance and murder, the Portland Police put out a renewed call for information on the cold case.

On December 16, 1976, 17-year-old Sharon Ryan was making cookies with her sister at a Northeast Portland home when she left on a quick errand to grab some eggs. She told her sister she was going to a nearby store, but never came back.

That was the last time she was seen alive.

Ryan’s body was discovered days later near a parking lot by her home. Broken eggs were not far from her remains. She had been sexually assaulted before being murdered.

Now, Cold Case Homicide Unit investigators are asking that anyone with information about her death contact police at (503) 823-0400. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

LINK:
43 years later, Sharon Ryan’s murder remains a mystery

 

[Savemecastiel]

Bumping

 

[Wowno17]

I found photos in my deceased Dad’s photo albums that look very similar to her. He was living in Portland at that time. I have been trying to research this case, but there’s not a lot out there. I would love additional photos of Sharon for comparison or any additional information about her.

And you don't recognize this girl at all?

 

[PayrollNerd]

Looks like an old website from 2013 has her photo but no article.

Cold Case: Sharon Ryan murder 12/16/1976 Portland, OR *Over 36 years later, investigators still looking for who killed Sharon Ryan*

 

[PayrollNerd]

Oregon cold case page has her listed.

KPTV FOX 12 Oregon - Cold Case Files from the Portland Police Bureau

 

[Legally Bland]

Looks like an old website from 2013 has her photo but no article.

Cold Case: Sharon Ryan murder 12/16/1976 Portland, OR *Over 36 years later, investigators still looking for who killed Sharon Ryan*

This link has links to some old articles:

_____________________

December 31 1976

Suspect held in girl's slaying

PORTLAND

A 24-year-old pool hall janitor was arrested and charged with murder Thursday in the strangulation death of a high school girl.

The janitor, Robert Ernest Wood of Portland, was accused in the slaying of Sharon Ryan, 17, whose body was found in a vacant lot Dec. 18.

Miss Ryan, a senior at Jefferson High School here, disappeared Dec. 16. She was last seen walking from a grocery where she had purchased eggs to make cookies.

Police Lt. Cedric Aichele said Wood had been under close scrutiny for two days before his arrest.

Aichele declined to say what led police to Wood but he appealed for an unidentified man to telephone officers again and identify himself as having given information leading to the arrest.

Aichele said he did not know whether Wood might have known Miss Ryan.

Wood was born in Idaho and spent his youth in Baker, his brother, The Rev. Ben R. Wood, said. He served in the Marine Corps before coming to Portland more than a year ago, the Rev. Wood said.

Wood was a gas station attendant here until he began working at the pool hall two months ago.

Miss Ryan was considered to have been a talented dancer. Described as quiet and shy, her schoolmates said she chose dancing as a way of making friends and meeting people.



Eugene Register-Guard - Google News Archive Search

_____________________

March 8 1977

Jury Acquits Man

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A jury found Robert Ernest Wood Innocent Tuesday of murder and rape charges in the death of 17-year-old Sharon Ryan in northeast Portland last Dec. 16.
Outpourings of emotion from the accused's friends and relatives in the courtroom accompanied announcement of the verdict, and Circuit Judge John Murchison of Multnomah County had to rap his gavel in a call for quiet.

Wood, 23, who had showed Uttle emotion through the seven-day trial, lifted his head and sobbed briefly on his attorney's shoulder as the verdict was announced.

Miss Ryan, a senior at Portland's Jefferson High School, disappeared while returning from a trip to a local market. Her half-nude body was found in a northeast Portland parking lot.



Spokane Daily Chronicle - Google News Archive Search

_____________________

March 9 1977

Accused slayer found innocent

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A Jury found Robert Ernest Wood innocent Tuesday of murder and rape charges in-the death of 17-year-old Sharon Ryan in northeast Portland last Dec.

Outpourings of emotion from the accused's friends and relatives in the courtroom accompanied announcement of the verdict, and Circuit Judge John Murchison of Multnomah County had to rap his gavel in a call for quiet.

Wood, 23, who had showed little emotion through the seven-day trial, lifted his head and sobbed briefly on his attorney's shoulder as the verdict was announced. .

Miss Ryan, a senior at Portland's Jefferson High School, disappeared while returning from a trip to a local market. Her half-nude body was found in a northeast Portland parking lot.

Wood, a former janitor at a billiards hall, called out "It's over. I'm so glad it's over," as he left the courtroom under police guard.

"I can't tell you how happy I feel." Wood's mother, Vivian Huilen said. She said she didn't doubt the trial's outcome because she felt her son "didn't do it. He couldn't do it."

Defense attorney Wendell Birkland said, "I'm thankful (the jury) reached a just verdict. That was the only verdict In view of the evidence."

The eight women and four men on the jury deliberated for two hours and 20 minutes before reaching the verdict. It was not unanimous. The jury was polled and revealed 11 were for acquittal and one, a woman was for conviction on each count of murder and rape.

In closing arguments, Wood was described by prosecutors as a man who had perpetrated "an utter fraud." His attorney described the defendant as a man innocent of any crime, persecuted while Miss Ryan's real killer remained at large.

The jury had viewed a tape of a Dick Van Dyke television show that aired the night Miss Ryan was murdered. Wood had, said he was watching the program at home at the time the woman disappeared.



The Bulletin - Google News Archive Search

 

[Richard]

"In closing arguments, Wood was described by prosecutors as a man who had perpetrated "an utter fraud." His attorney described the defendant as a man innocent of any crime, persecuted while Miss Ryan's real killer remained at large."

Sounds like two completely different persons being described. What has Mr. Wood done since 1977? If he didn't kill Sharon, who did?

 

[PayrollNerd]

"In closing arguments, Wood was described by prosecutors as a man who had perpetrated "an utter fraud." His attorney described the defendant as a man innocent of any crime, persecuted while Miss Ryan's real killer remained at large."

Sounds like two completely different persons being described. What has Mr. Wood done since 1977? If he didn't kill Sharon, who did?

Exactly and is there DNA that they can look at and compare to him now? Her family needs answers.

 

[Richard]

Exactly and is there DNA that they can look at and compare to him now? Her family needs answers.

Even if DNA were to prove a match with him today, there would be no legal way to re-try the case. He was tried and acquitted in 1977.

However - if he had done something since that time to get his DNA into the system, it could be compared with any obtained at the scene of Sharon's murder or from clothing she may have been wearing and still in evidence storage. If such a match were to be made, an acquittal in the criminal trial would not preclude a civil trial for damages (as was the case with O. J. Simpson) .

 

[PayrollNerd]

Even if DNA were to prove a match with him today, there would be no legal way to re-try the case. He was tried and acquitted in 1977.

However - if he had done something since that time to get his DNA into the system, it could be compared with any obtained at the scene of Sharon's murder or from clothing she may have been wearing and still in evidence storage. If such a match were to be made, an acquittal in the criminal trial would not preclude a civil trial for damages (as was the case with O. J. Simpson) .

Yes that’s true but just for the family to have answers and peace would be huge. I can’t imagine this dude changed his behavior. I hope they’ve tested all rape kits.

 

[heathensmom]

I found photos in my deceased Dad’s photo albums that look very similar to her. He was living in Portland at that time. I have been trying to research this case, but there’s not a lot out there. I would love additional photos of Sharon for comparison or any additional information about her.

The first one on the right is definitely not her. I don't believe the other one is either. I went to grade school with her. Also she was a student at Jefferson High school. Portland's Performing Arts School. She was a extremely talented dancer. They dedicated a room at Jefferson for her after her murder.

 

[heathensmom]

Yes that’s true but just for the family to have answers and peace would be huge. I can’t imagine this dude changed his behavior. I hope they’ve tested all rape kits.

He was acquitted and rightfully so. The Portland Police had blinders on and only investigated him though they had other leads. I called every few years and was always told...like it was written on the file "WE had the right guy. The JURY SCREWED UP." It was also their standard answer for why it was a closed case and not a COLD case. So what made them change their minds in 2007-2008? They screwed up. They refuse to talk about the case now that it is a "active cold case." I saved every article in the papers from her disappearance until she was found. I did not cover the trial because I never felt they had the right guy. Call Sgt Kory Roberts of the Cold Case Team @ 503-823-0909 and ask him WHAT made them decide to go from a closed to cold case in around 2007-2008? Hopefully he is no longer working the case and you can get a answer. She was a very talented dancer, and a kind person. She lived on 47th with her dad and I lived on 46th. She moved in with her sister when she was accepted at Jefferson. That Christmas was the first her entire family was going to be together in years.

 

[PayrollNerd]

He was acquitted and rightfully so. The Portland Police had blinders on and only investigated him though they had other leads. I called every few years and was always told...like it was written on the file "WE had the right guy. The JURY SCREWED UP." It was also their standard answer for why it was a closed case and not a COLD case. So what made them change their minds in 2007-2008? They screwed up. They refuse to talk about the case now that it is a "active cold case." I saved every article in the papers from her disappearance until she was found. I did not cover the trial because I never felt they had the right guy. Call Sgt Kory Roberts of the Cold Case Team @ 503-823-0909 and ask him WHAT made them decide to go from a closed to cold case in around 2007-2008? Hopefully he is no longer working the case and you can get a answer. She was a very talented dancer, and a kind person. She lived on 47th with her dad and I lived on 46th. She moved in with her sister when she was accepted at Jefferson. That Christmas was the first her entire family was going to be together in years.

This is great info. Thank you very much for joining WS and welcome!

Would you by chance be able to scan and upload the newspaper articles you saved? To get them now usually requires a subscription most of us don’t have.

 

[Richard]

Sharon Ryan

Sharon Ryan, a senior at Grant High School, was making cookies at her sister’s house on the 2400 block of Northeast Flanders on Dec. 16, 1976, when she went out to grab some eggs. After about 30 minutes with no sign of Ryan, her family became worried and started searching, but there was no sign of the missing 17 year old.

Two days later, after an exhaustive search, a friend spotted a carton full of broken eggs in a parking lot near Ryan’s home and she was found beaten, sexually assaulted and her body was concealed with plant material in an isolated grassy area next to the parking lot.

LINK:
Portland's cold cases: 22 unsolved mysteries

 

[heathensmom]

Sharon Ryan

Sharon Ryan, a senior at Grant High School, was making cookies at her sister’s house on the 2400 block of Northeast Flanders on Dec. 16, 1976, when she went out to grab some eggs. After about 30 minutes with no sign of Ryan, her family became worried and started searching, but there was no sign of the missing 17 year old.

Two days later, after an exhaustive search, a friend spotted a carton full of broken eggs in a parking lot near Ryan’s home and she was found beaten, sexually assaulted and her body was concealed with plant material in an isolated grassy area next to the parking lot.

LINK:
Portland's cold cases: 22 unsolved mysteries

Sharon Ryan

Sharon Ryan, a senior at Grant High School, was making cookies at her sister’s house on the 2400 block of Northeast Flanders on Dec. 16, 1976, when she went out to grab some eggs. After about 30 minutes with no sign of Ryan, her family became worried and started searching, but there was no sign of the missing 17 year old.

Two days later, after an exhaustive search, a friend spotted a carton full of broken eggs in a parking lot near Ryan’s home and she was found beaten, sexually assaulted and her body was concealed with plant material in an isolated grassy area next to the parking lot.

LINK:
Portland's cold cases: 22 unsolved mysteries

WHY after I posted she was a student at Jefferson did you rehash a article that she was a "Senior at Grant High School" it is sloppy research.

 

[PayrollNerd]

WHY after I posted she was a student at Jefferson did you rehash a article that she was a "Senior at Grant High School" it is sloppy research.

I would recommend you reach out to the Oregonlive.com website source and request they make an update based on proof you have. The Terms of Service (TOS) require a Main Stream Media (MSM) and that was what was linked.

 

[Richard]

Portland's Jefferson High School is a special focus school which allows students to take college credit classes. It is a public school which shares a geographical area with three other Public High School districts: Grant, Madison, and Roosevelt. Where a student lives determines what public school he or she attends.

In my previous post, I quoted exactly what was stated in the link provided. I do not know the particulars of Sharon's school registration, but it is possible that she lived in a district or area which included both Grant and Jefferson schools.

Some special schools provide classes and curriculum (full or part time) for students who later are awarded a diploma from their home area school. I do not know if this was the case here, but a possibility. It is also possible that a student could transfer into the special school after starting out in one of the
other high schools.

LINK:
https://www.pps.net/cms/lib/OR01913224/Centricity/Domain/2294/Jefferson_DA.pdf

 

[heathensmom]

Portland's Jefferson High School is a special focus school which allows students to take college credit classes. It is a public school which shares a geographical area with three other Public High School districts: Grant, Madison, and Roosevelt. Where a student lives determines what public school he or she attends.

In my previous post, I quoted exactly what was stated in the link provided. I do not know the particulars of Sharon's school registration, but it is possible that she lived in a district or area which included both Grant and Jefferson schools.

Some special schools provide classes and curriculum (full or part time) for students who later are awarded a diploma from their home area school. I do not know if this was the case here, but a possibility. It is also possible that a student could transfer into the special school after starting out in one of the
other high schools.

LINK:
https://www.pps.net/cms/lib/OR01913224/Centricity/Domain/2294/Jefferson_DA.pdf

Jefferson, at the time of her death was the "Performing Arts" school. She was a gifted dancer.