FOREST GROVE, Ore. – A Forest Grove man tried to kill his estranged wife and another man by detonating a pipe bomb near a home where they were sleeping.
Timothy Ray Holycross, 57, was convicted of attempted aggravated murder (six counts), manufacturing a destructive device, possession of a destructive device, arson, criminal mischief, unlawful possession of a firearm (three counts) and violating a stalking protective order.
Investigators said a large destructive device exploded near Bard Park in the early morning hours of May 19. Responding police officers found remnants of the device near the park, a damaged home and shrapnel nearly 100 yards away from the blast site, said Captain Mike Herb with Forest Grove police.
Holycross’ estranged wife and another man were sleeping inside the damaged home before the explosion, police said. They were not injured by the blast.
Holycross became a suspect in the case as investigators recovered evidence from the explosion.
Detectives later learned Holycross had a stalking order against him after “months of repeated unwanted contact with his estranged wife,” Herb said.
Neighbors said Holycross would routinely ride a back in the neighborhood and set up camp nearby so he could keep an eye on the home.
"He was stalking her for a good couple weeks before it happened," said one neighbor.
Investigators served a search warrant at Holycross’ home on June 7 and took him into custody. He was convicted on Oct. 20.
Special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives worked on the case with Forest Grove police, as did investigators with the Portland police bomb squad and Oregon State Police.