Authorities say the victims included a grandmother, mother, daughter and two friends linked to a rural Oregon property.
FOREST GROVE, Ore. — Three generations of one family and two close friends have been identified as the five people killed at a rural property west of Portland, giving investigators and the public a clearer picture of a case authorities have described as unusually complex.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as Mary Elizabeth Kimsey, 85, of Portland; her daughter, Rowan Karla Kimsey, 60, of Forest Grove; Rowan’s daughter, Stella Jade Kimsey, 26, of Forest Grove; Stella’s best friend, Linsey Mae Haraldsen, 26, of Portland; and Haraldsen’s partner, Alvin Raymond Chu, 27, of Portland. Authorities said Stella Kimsey lived at the property with Rowan Kimsey and Stella’s boyfriend, Benjamin Charles Parker.
Parker, 36, was identified by detectives as the suspect in the five homicides. He was found dead Sunday inside his vehicle in Enumclaw, Washington, after investigators determined he had traveled north from Oregon. Authorities believe he died by suicide. The sheriff’s office has said it does not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.
The investigation began early Saturday at the property on Northwest Otis Lane in unincorporated Washington County outside Forest Grove. Deputies were called to assist the Forest Grove Fire Department after a 911 report of a vehicle fire. Fire personnel found human remains, prompting a larger law enforcement response. Five people were eventually found dead.
Rowan Kimsey owned the property and lived there with Stella Kimsey and Parker, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities said Mary Kimsey was Rowan’s mother and Stella’s grandmother. Haraldsen was described as Stella’s best friend, while Chu was Haraldsen’s partner. Investigators have said the killings were not believed to be random.
Several animals also died. Authorities said two cats and two dogs were found dead at the property. A third cat was discovered injured and taken to a veterinarian but was later euthanized because of its injuries. Livestock that remained at the property has since been rehomed.
Authorities have not publicly explained how the five victims were killed or what may have motivated the attack. The causes of death have not been released. Those unanswered questions remain central to an investigation that has continued even after the death of the person detectives identified as their suspect.
Washington County Sheriff Caprice Massey has said the size and complexity of the scene presented an unusual challenge for investigators. Officials initially limited the information released publicly while detectives worked to identify the dead, notify relatives and pursue the suspect. The identification of the victims provided new details about their relationships but did not resolve the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The case now centers on reconstructing what happened at the property before firefighters arrived Saturday morning. Detectives are continuing to examine evidence and the relationships among the people connected to the home. Authorities have not announced a motive, and the investigation remains active.
Author note: Last updated August 25, 2026.