PORTLAND, Ore. — This month marks seven years since the murder of Brian Spaulding. The 36-year-old was found shot to death in 2017 in his Northeast Portland home.
Since that day, his parents, George and Carolyn Spaulding, have fought to figure out who is responsible and why they killed their son.
"Any little scrap of information would help. It wouldn't take much," George Spaulding said. "It still remains unsolved and that's why we're going on camera yet again. Just waiting for somebody to do the right thing."
Each year since their son's murder, they have hoped for a breakthrough in the case.
"The bottom line for us is to get closure on the why factor," he said. "We know how, a gunshot, and we know where, in his own room. And we know when, seven years ago, but we don't know why and we don't know who."
When Brian Spaulding didn't show up to work on June 12, 2017, his parents went to his home Northeast 10th Avenue near Irving Park. They found him dead in his bedroom.
Investigators confirmed he was shot to death, but told the couple there wasn’t much evidence to work with. George Spaulding suspects it was a burglary or robbery that went awry. An autopsy conducted by the Oregon State Medical Examiner ruled Spaulding's death a homicide.
"The detectives are very certain that it was no fault of Brian's," George Spaulding said. "Somebody made a really rash and stupid decision and took somebody who was very near and dear to us. We miss him every day."
Seven years later, Crime Stoppers of Oregon is still offering a reward of $2,500 for information that leads to an arrest, and an additional $20,000 — money raised by Brian Spaulding's friends and family. The case is still considered active.
"That one person that pulled the trigger knows. And it's reasonable to assume there's at least one other person that knew, that knows that person, or at least suspects it. And I think it's the same case for a number of the other unsolved cases here in Portland," George Spaulding said.
Anyone that knows anything is asked to contact Detective Rico Beniga at Rico.Beniga@police.portlandoregon.gov offering a $20,000 reward, or can contact Crime Stoppers of Oregon anonymously offering a reward of $2,500. Rewards are awarded in the case the tip leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.