A Washington County jury will try the cold-case murder of a suspected drug dealer from Hillsboro whose body has never been located on Tuesday.
On July 2, 1999, 22-year-old Anthony Kennedy was last seen alive after driving home to Southeast 73rd Avenue in Hillsboro after collecting a $4,200 marijuana drug debt from a buddy in Columbia City.
Kenneth Gipson, Kennedy’s roommate, is accused by the prosecution of bludgeoning the dealer to death over the course of the July 4 weekend before robbing him of his possessions, including his pickup and cash.
Deputy District Attorney Marie Atwood claimed in pre-trial filings that Gipson had no alibi, need money to settle his personal debts, and was the only one with the resources, motivation, and opportunity.
It might be difficult to prove that, though, as a number of important witnesses have passed away, including Kennedy’s dad Dale, a drug dealer who had survived a robbery gone bad shooting in the same house years prior.
The only significant physical evidence is a paper towel that was discovered in Tony Kennedy’s toolbox and was smeared with Gipson’s blood. Gipson allegedly took the tools after the murder, according to the prosecution.
The defense claims that since the $4,200 drug payment was eventually discovered concealed in Kennedy’s closet, there is no proof that Gipson stole anything.
Numerous alternative theories have been put up by the defense, including the claims that Christopher Lovrien, the convicted Portland double murderer, or a biker gang killed Tony Kennedy as part of a conflict with his stepfather.
Defence lawyer Venetia Mayhew said, “It’s a cold case with no body, no crime scene, deceased witnesses and persons of interest, and no knowledge of how, where, or even if Mr. Kennedy died.”
MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING WOMAN IN WHEELCHAIR
A Washington County jury has found a Portland man guilty of beating and sexually abusing a woman who was sleeping on the streets of downtown Beaverton in 2023.
Just before midnight on October 12, 2023, Timothy P. Fitzgerald discovered the woman on Southwest Lombard Avenue close to the Beaverton Transit Center after finishing his drink at a sports bar.
Prosecutors said the woman used a wheelchair and had been hit by a car in the past.
Fitzgerald, 54, repeatedly kicked the unnamed woman in the face with a steel-toe boot after she refused his offer of money. After that, he sexually abused her and only left when a street sweeper noticed him.
On the MAX train headed toward Portland, he was taken into custody. Fitzgerald has no past criminal history in Oregon and is identified as residing in Santa Fe.
ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE FILED AGAINST BEAVERTON MAN
According to documents, Dereck D. Conant is accused of shooting Alex Eufracio after a botched drug deal and has been charged with attempted murder in Washington County Court.
Following reports of a shooting inside a car outside the complex’s clubhouse, Beaverton police arrived at the Commons at Redwood Creek apartments at approximately 8 p.m. on February 4, 2024.
According to a detective’s affidavit, Conant, 39, allegedly called 33-year-old Eufracio to the area to purchase two pounds of methamphetamine before shooting him inside the vehicle.
Conant was accused and taken into custody in November on several charges of first-degree robbery, assault, and attempted murder; Eufracio lived. He is still being held.
IN OTHERS NEWS FROM MULTNOMAH COUNTY
After allegedly shooting Ross Harper on September 25, 20-year-old I Shawn Regalado-Granberg was just taken into custody and charged with attempted murder.
In August 2023, a judge in Portland sentenced 46-year-old Vivian Shemansky to three years of probation for shattering the windows of a parked car and throwing a pail of poo into it. Before last week’s hearing, Shemansky was incarcerated for approximately a month.
This month, 20-year-old Yahir Hernandez-Sanchez was given a three-year prison sentence for snatching Jason Tran’s gold necklace on July 26, 2023, at the MAX stop close to Northeast 60th Avenue after brandishing a gun. The chain had a $100 worth.
For The Oregonian/OregonLive, Zane Sparling reports on court proceedings and breaking news. You may contact him at [email protected], 503-319-7083, or pdxzane.
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