PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — DNA testing being performed by the University of Texas confirmed that human remains found in Marion County belong to wanted fugitive Paul Winklebleck.
KOIN 6 News first reported the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office was confident that the remains found near Turner, Oregon in December 2014 were Winklebleck’s. Official test results recently came back, according to Portland Police Bureau.
Winklebleck was wanted on felony warrants for kidnapping, criminal impersonation, assault, attempted rape and robbery. He was also wanted for child sex abuse and failing to register as a child sex offender.
On March 4, 2010, at approximately 11:45 p.m., two women left the Roseland Theatre in downtown when they were approached by Winklebleck who fabricated a story that he was working for Portland Police Bureau as a “spotter” and was willing to assist them in getting home because they might be intoxicated.
Believing his story, the two women agreed to let Winklebleck drive them home in their car because he said he worked for the police and it was his job to get them home.
Once in their car Winklebleck displayed a knife, drove south on I-5 and took the Detroit Lake exit, stopping on a gravel road off the freeway. Once stopped, the women were able to escape and run to a nearby home where a resident called 911.
On Thursday, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office said, when the remains were found, detectives located the same clothing described by the victims and the physical description matched Winklebleck. Portland Police told KOIN 6 that they believe Winklebleck died the night of the kidnapping and died of drowning and or hyperthermia.
Filed under: Crime, Local News, Marion County, Multnomah County, Oregon
