According to investigators, a guy from Washington County who was employed as a prison guard in Oregon killed his daughter before turning the gun on himself earlier this week.
After receiving a request for a welfare check, sheriff’s deputies arrived at the Baseline Woods apartments, located at 545 S.W. 201st Ave. in unincorporated Washington County, at around 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
They entered and discovered 16-year-old Larissa Alexander dead next to the 45-year-old body of her father, Nicholas T. Alexander.
According to state officials, Nicholas Alexander had been with the Oregon Department of Corrections for a long time. He began working for the department in 2015, according to state records, and was given the Oregon State Penitentiary as his assignment. Later on, he was moved to the state’s women’s prison, Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. Records from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards & Training indicate that as of October 4, he was on leave.
His daughter was a junior at Hillsboro’s Century High School.
Deputy David Huey announced on Thursday that investigators had concluded the double homicide was a murder-suicide.
“I’m not sure if we’ll understand why,” he remarked.
According to Huey, someone asked Washington County Sheriff’s deputies to check on Larissa Alexander after she stopped answering texts.
Investigations into the case are still ongoing.
Nicholas Alexander was taken into custody on Monday on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, Huey said. The arrest happened in the 400 block of Southwest Basilone Terrace at approximately 3:05 a.m.
A former correctional officer from Oregon was accused last month with his brother’s death by shooting in Polk County. Authorities claim that Alonzo Rowell, 51, had the prospective intent to injure others and that he reportedly headed to the Oregon State Penitentiary, where he had previously worked, after the shooting.
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.
Criminal justice is the area of expertise for enterprise reporter Noelle Crombie. You can reach her at [email protected] or 503-276-7184.
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