Five people were found dead Saturday at a property near Forest Grove after a 911 call about a vehicle fire, and Tigard Police Department is among a dozen agencies now assisting the Washington County Sheriff's Office in what detectives are calling a homicide investigation.
No arrests have been made. Detectives said the killings were not a random act of violence.
"There is someone that we don't have in custody that committed this act," Detective Shannon Wilde told reporters at an Aug. 23 press conference, according to KATU.
Deputies responded at 5:27 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, to 47350 NW Otis Lane in unincorporated Washington County after Forest Grove Fire Department personnel arrived for the vehicle fire and discovered human remains, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Firefighters did not treat anyone at the scene before calling law enforcement.
Responders ultimately found five people dead, along with several domestic animals also killed. Officials have not released the victims' names, ages, genders or cause of death.
Sheriff Caprice Massey said at the press conference that in her 22 years working in the area, she has never seen a "scene this complex." She urged anyone familiar with the residence or its occupants to contact investigators.
The Washington County Major Crimes Team, an inter-agency unit of detectives from departments across the county, is leading the investigation alongside the sheriff's office.
The Oregon State Police Crime Lab processed the scene, and the sheriff's office deployed its Remotely Operated Vehicle Team, Crash Analysis Reconstruction Team, Search and Rescue and Tactical Negotiations Team.
Tigard Police Department is one of 12 agencies assisting. Others include Beaverton Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, Forest Grove Police Department, Cornelius Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington County Animal Services and the Washington Medical Examiner's Office. A Hillsboro Police mobile command unit was seen at the scene Saturday.
A reverse 911 call was sent to nearby residents initially but was lifted shortly after.
Wilde described the investigation as "very active." No suspect has been named, and no timeline for further updates has been announced.
Anyone with information about the property's residents or their associates can call Washington County non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111, referencing case number 50-26-11866.
