Police seek boyfriend in Oregon death

WOLF CREEK, Ore. (AP) - Josephine County sheriff's deputies are searching for the boyfriend of a 20-year-old woman found dead on Monday.

Sheriff Gil Gilbertson said 24-year-old Joseph O'Dell, a long-time Wolf Creek resident with no known current address, dropped off his unconscious girlfriend at a home on Lower Grave Creek Road and left before emergency crews arrived. Investigators were told Caitlyn C. Strauser drowned in Grave Creek, but an autopsy performed by a state medical examiner determined the cause of death to be homicide. 

Gilbertson says O'Dell is wanted on a statewide felony warrant for failing to appear in court on an original charge of possession of methamphetamine.

 - The Daily Courier originated this report. The mug shot above and DMV photo to the left are courtesy of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office.
 

OFFICIAL REPORT from the Josephine County Sherriff's Office (update):

At 7:34 a.m. on July 20 the Wolf Creek Fire District, American Medical Response and the Oregon State Police responded to 955 Lower Wolf Creek Road in Wolf Creek. Just as law enforcement arrived on scene, Caitlyn Strauser was transported to Three Rivers Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit was notified by the State Police and Sheriff’s detectives assumed the investigation.

Investigators learned that shortly before 7:34 a.m. Joseph “Joey” O’Dell brought Caitlyn to the Lower Wolf Creek Road address and, with the assistance of those there, dropped the unconscious Caitlyn off and promptly left the scene. Investigators were initially told that Caitlyn had drowned in Grave Creek some five miles downstream from the Lower Wolf Creek address. Investigators attempted to locate O’Dell, however his whereabouts remain unknown.

On July 21, the District Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on Caitlyn Strauser and determined her death to be a homicide. The cause of death is pending further investigation by detectives.

Joseph O’Dell is a longtime resident of Wolf Creek with no known current address. He and Caitlyn Strauser were involved in a year-and-a-half-long relationship that reportedly included domestic violence against Ms. Strauser.  O’Dell currently is wanted on a State wide felony warrant for failure to appear on an original charge of possession of methamphetamine and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

If anyone has information concerning this investigation or the whereabouts of Joseph “Joey” O’Dell, we urge them to call the Josephine County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit at 541-474-5153 or the Sheriff’s Office business line at (541) 474-5123 or our confidential tip line at (541) 474-5160.