Man on the run: Suspect has history of eluding cops

JOSEPHINE COUNTY, Ore. - A 23-year-old Josephine County man wanted by law enforcement in connection with the death of a 20-year-old girl in Wolf Creek, Ore., has a history of eluding police.

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office issued a statement on Wednesday asking for public assistance in locating O'Dell after the man's girlfriend, Caitlyn Strauser, died mysteriously on Monday. An autopsy ruled it a homicide and O'Dell remains at large. (Here's the current Josephine County Jail inmate list.)

KATU.com has discovered that when O'Dell was 21 he led state and county police officers on a chase through Grants Pass back roads before he and his two passengers jumped into the Rogue River. This incident occurred Feb. 15, 2007.

On that evening, an Oregon state trooper tried to stop a 1986 Honda four-door going south on Interstate 5, near milepost 65 north of Grants Pass, for a traffic violation.

According to the report, the Honda initially pulled onto the freeway shoulder and stopped but then sped south, exiting at the Merlin exit near milepost 61. Oregon State Police troopers and Josephine County sheriff deputies began pursuit while O'Dell drove the Honda through county roads for about 20 miles until the road ended at what is Ferry Road. 

The three occupants got out of the car and ran, jumping into the Rogue River. The two passengers, 23-year-old Kyle Thier and 20-year-old Christina Derenzo, both from Grants Pass, were quickly recovered from the river which had water temperatures near 40 degrees.
 
O'Dell began screaming for help after he was caught in the river current and dragged to the center of the river. (Water rescue personnel were called.) After "a period of time" in the cold water, O'Dell was able to pull himself out of the other side of the river before collapsing on the river bank. That's where Oregon State troopers found him and made their arrest.

All three individuals were transported by ambulance to Three Rivers Community Hospital for treatment of hypothermia. During this time, troopers learned the Honda displayed switched license plates and the car had been stolen from the Grants Pass area.
 
Upon release from the hospital, O'Dell was taken into custody and lodged in Josephine County Jail for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Felony Attempt to Elude in a Vehicle and Misdemeanor Attempt to Elude on Foot. O'Dell's two passengers were not arrested.
 
State troopers from Grants Pass and Central Point offices were assisted during this incident by Josephine County Sheriff's Office, American Medical Response, Rural Metro Fire personnel and their rescue response team.

Sergeant Jeff Fitzgerald, an Oregon state police officer stationed in Grants Pass, was there after O'Dell fished himself out of the frigid waters and again when friends of the dead woman called police.

"Yep, it's the same guy," said Fitzgerald. "We initially responded [to the call reporting the recent death] but it was handed back over the the sheriff's detective."

Meanwhile, in the homicide case, O'Dell remains at large. While Josephine County sheriff's have no known address for O'Dell, Fitzgerald reports that O'Dell was living in Grants Pass at the time of the 2007 incident.

"He's local to this area, but he's been all over," Fitzgerald said.

The Josephine County sheriff handling the death case said he was unaware of the Grants Pass connection and O'Dell's previous attempted escape from the law. Meanwhile, experts in the area of criminal behavior tell KATU.com staff that those running from or committing crimes often will travel up and down the Interstate 5 corridor.

- The Oregon State Police Public Information Office contributed to this report.