PORTLAND, Ore. — Detectives believe that a man whose body was found in the Columbia River Slough in Northeast Portland more than a week ago was a victim of homicide. Crime Stoppers of Oregon has now offered a reward for information that leads to an arrest in the case.
On April 8, a passerby called 911 to report what appeared to be a body in the water near Northeast 105th Avenue and Northeast Alderwood, not far from I-205.
Though the discovery happened in Portland, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction on all waterways in the county. An MCSO river patrol unit went out to the area, soon confirming that there was a man's body in the slough and pulling it from the water.
Investigators identified the man as Jeremy Levi Gurtner, 44.
Gurtner's body was taken to the medical examiner's office for an autopsy, which later determined that he'd died of "homicidal violence." Detectives estimated that he had been dead anywhere between four days and two weeks.
The sheriff's office said that Gurtner had never been reported missing, and his family learned of his death when investigators notified next of kin.
Crime Stoppers of Oregon announced Tuesday that it would offer a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to an arrest in Gurtner's death or any other unsolved felony crime.
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Anyone wishing to submit a secure and anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers regarding any unsolved felony crime can visit the organization's website or download "P3 Tips" from the app store for a smart phone or tablet.
In just the first few months of 2022, Portland is on pace to surpass 2021's record-breaking homicide count. The fatal shooting of a teenage boy in Southeast Portland on Sunday night and Gurtner's death make 30 homicides as of April 19.
