Condon murder suspect returns to face charges

Summary

More than 10 years after a southern Oregon teenager was murdered, her suspected killer will finally appear in court. Dale Wayne Hill is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Douglas County Circuit Court.

Story Published: Jul 9, 2009 at 9:32 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 10, 2009 at 7:06 AM PDT

Condon murder suspect returns to face charges

ROSEBURG, Ore. - More than 10 years after a southern Oregon teenager was murdered, her suspected killer will finally appear in court.

Dale Wayne Hill was brought back to Douglas County Thursday afternoon.  He was lodged in the Douglas County Jail after being transported here from Nevada.

Hill is being held on suspicion of three counts of Aggravated Murder in connection with the death of 14-year-old Stephanie Elizabeth Condon, who disappeared over a decade ago but whose remains were found just this year.

Hill is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Douglas County Circuit Court.

Police in Nevada arrested Dale Wayne Hill earlier this year on suspicion of failing to register as a felon. The day before he was set to be released, a Douglas County grand jury indicted him on the three counts of murder.

Condon disappeared the night of Oct. 30, 1998.  She was babysitting for her cousin, Cheryl Richey, at  the woman's home on Henry Street in Tri City the night of her disappearance.

Richey returned home around 1:30 a.m. and found her twins sleeping in their beds.

She also found Stephanie's backpack, schoolbook and clothes but the teenager was gone.

Years later, on March 13, 2009, Condon's remains were found near a logging road in the Little River area near Glide, Ore., by a hiker who was walking his dog.

Condon's story has been featured on various national programs over the years, including an episode of the CBS show Without a Trace, as well as appearances by family members on The Early Show on CBS.

Stephanie's family launched a Web site about the case on the 9th anniversary of her disappearance. A billboard on Interstate 5 also sought public help solving the case.

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