Lake Oswego murder suspect has lengthy, violent criminal history
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CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Police released the name of a man they suspect stabbed to death a 57-year-old man at his home near Lake Oswego earlier this week.
Police say over 300 tips from the public helped them to name 37-year-old Erik John Meiser as the man they believe murdered Fredrick “Fritz” Hayes early Monday morning.
On Friday, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office said a warrant for aggravated murder in Oregon had been issued for Meiser.
The FBI also confirmed they are assisting in the search for Meiser.
"The public got us going on the direction that we did with the tips they gave us, combined with solid police work and the cooperation of other law enforcement agencies to get where we are today to identify Mr. Meiser as the suspect," said Clackamas County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Adam Phillips.
The sheriff's office described Meiser as 6 feet 5 inches tall, weighs between 170 and 190 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. He also has the words “Neo Nazi” tattooed on his left knuckles.
He has the word "Hate" tattooed on his right calf and a skull and Viking on his left arm. They said the also tattoos are mostly white supremacist images.
They said he was last seen with a scraggly beard.
According to the Sheriff Craig Roberts, Meiser has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1989 and should be considered armed and dangerous.
He's been arrested in nine states for crimes including assault, drug and property crimes, hate crimes and resisting arrest, Roberts said, adding that Meiser has spent a lot of time in prison and correctional facilities.
Deputies said if anyone spots Meiser, they should not approach him and call 911 immediately.
They said he has traveled extensively in the Western United States and is known to carry knives that he uses as weapons. He also uses public transportation and travels by foot extensively.
The sheriff’s office said anyone with tips about the case can call the tip line at (503) 723-4949.
Witnesses said Hayes was walking his dog with his wife at around 6:30 a.m. that morning when the suspect stabbed Hayes outside their home.
Detectives said they don’t believe Hayes knew the suspect.
Police made reverse-9-1-1 calls to about 4,000 homes with a description and warning about the suspect.
A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the suspect’s arrest.
Three schools were put into lockdown mode near the home on Atwater Road, which is just outside the Lake Oswego city limits. The home is near Lake Oswego Country Club.
Watch Thursday night's news conference:
here is a wooded area near wilsonville high that a lot of home less folks area.Also there was a tall dude there on weds walking.
This psycho could be anywhere by now! hope he is caught and soon!
I wonder why Mr. Meiser's parents chose to raise him so poorly. You've got to screw up REALLY BADLY as a parent if your kid turns out to be a neo-Nazi drifter-murderer, of all things.
 @Whobeke I've seen the best parents turn out some of the worst kids and I've seen really wonderful kids come out of nightmare families. I think it's a bit early to lay blame at the feet of his parents.
probably in the dalles by now, he will blend right in.
 I don't understand why people feel it is necessary to publically speculate about the wife's involvement in her husband's murder. Hasn't the woman been through enough trauma? Show some respect, kindness and consideration! Let the police do their job and if it comes out in the investigation that she was involved then, by all means, skewer her THEN. I'm reminded of a bunch of chickens in a henhouse. One chicken will get a cut and the rest of them will mercilessly peck it to death.
 @Finally You are correct, people shouldn't judge. Blogs are a great when to through out anonymous comments, with NO identification of the writer. (Almost mob like). Think of some of the stories, in the last few years, when either the husband or wife, wants to get rid of the other. People have become just plain cynical.  I'm sure, now that the FBI is involved, this investigation will be enhanced and solved much sooner, than later.
I would bet he no longer looks like he was described. Escept for his height, eye color and tattoos on his knuckles, he has probably already blended in with the rest of the population. These folks are survivors! I guess one question I would have is that if's got such an "extensive criminal history" in several states, why is he out and about? Must have been rehabilitated after each arrest and conviction, I guess, and allowed to reintegrate into society.
It's too bad that Lake Oswego vote down the Streetcar. Â They could have had more transients like this show up in their neighborhood.
This guy looks very little like the guy in the sketch, even if you ignore the scraggly beard. Cheeks aren't sunken, facial structure, etc.. I could swear that I've seen the guy in the sketch somewhere before, in South Tigard I believe, a couple of years ago. As I recall, he looks EXACTLY like the sketch released by the police.  I've tried to narrow down where I saw the guy so that I might be able to help out, but I haven't had much luck.  Anyway, this Meiser fellow just doesn't have much of a resemblance to the sketch or (published) description, even though he looks like a real peach himself.    I just hope that they get the scumbag who did it, regardless, and that justice is served (as much as it possibly can be).
What a waste of a good life (Hayes) for a rotten one (Meiser). Meiser should just off himself and do society a favor.
Liberal? Conservative? Really people??? Can we just stay on point here?
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It's Lake Oswego--the guy was probably there doing car or house prowls and Mr. and Mrs. Hayes just came across this idiot at the wrong time and unfortunately Mr. Hayes paid for it with his life. I would be really surprised if something more "sinister" was at play here.
Fritz Hayes' death was unnecessary.Â
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Meiser's got a long rap sheet, which assures us that he's been given breaks such as lighter-than-warranted sentences, and early release. Hayes has been killed by public officials who haven't done their best to protect the public.
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No... realistically, nobody's going to execute the man, Chinese-style. But that's not necessary.
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The only way to reduce this type of crime is to make public officials civilly-liable for decisions to early-release these animals back onto an unsuspecting and vulnerable public.
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I wish they'd say what tips led them to this guy. Is he known to be in the area? Positive ID?
 @Lips My thoughts exactly Lips.  Did they have a partial print and just needed a name to compare it to? I can't believe that they are just basing this warrant on tips. Did he confess to more than one other person his involvement? There has got to be more to this than just somebody calling in and saying, "I think it's this guy."
No way. This house is in the middle of Lake Oswego. I've lived in LO, and you NEVER see guys like this in LO. Something else is going on here. This is a strange story
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 @danoseknows mkay.
 @danoseknows HA!! Have a good weekend man!
 @ryanmang No neighborhood is safe from criminals. They roam the streets every where. But, I do agree something strange is going on. Murder for hire?
Any word on a motive yet?
Death penalty for this man once caught. Oh wait...Kitz won't allow it.Â
The Sheriff's office and Local Police are doing all that they can -- Â BUT Â I wonder if, we should look at:Â Bounty Hunter Laws...?? Â Maybe start at $10,000 ??Â
Holy smokes this guy is an idiot. Put him out of his misery so he can cause no more harm.
"Meiser has an extensive criminal history dating back to 1989 and should be considered armed and dangerous. He's been arrested in nine states for crimes including assault, drug and property crimes, hate crimes and resisting arrest, Roberts said, adding that Meiser has spent a lot of time in prison and correctional facilities."
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How has this guy not been executed already? Although been caught numerous times for violent offenses and hate crimes? What, do you really think he's going to turn a new leaf?
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There are some brief instances where I think China is doing it right. This is one of them. Two behind the ear, not a problem for anybody anymore.
 @mpower830 It sounds like this guy has been in and out of correctional facilities his entire life.  Definitely one who fell through the cracks...
He shouldn't have fallen through the cracks, he's not that thin. Some day, liberals will keep folks in prison that really do belong there! How many chances does one deserve?
He sounds like a good conservative to me. A little extreme... but still a good conservative!
 @realoldguy Really, realoldguy? I'm a liberal, but you're an idiot. This story is not the time or place.
 @realoldguy Na conservatives don't believe in taking other people's money and property unless it's through a legal business transaction.
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What you're talking about is basically free handouts at gunpoint or in this case knife point which is strictly a liberal methodology for extracting money from the wealthy to give to those who don't want to work hard. You know your leader that you apparently pledge allegiance to now with his own flag is an expert at it...
 @realoldguy He sounds like a good liberal to me. A little extreme... but still a good liberal!
@realoldguy Keep talking - you're just sounding dumber and dumber with every word.
So is his beard really a different shade like the Photoshop image?!?
Hey, everyone who said he must be Islamist or an Arab, turns out he was just a white racist like all of you. Surely one of you must know him? Was he at the meeting last week?
@I_Miss Your remark is the only racist remark I have seen on this story. Sad and pathetic.
 @I_Miss I didn't read any rasist remarks so maybe you jumped the gun a little?
I hope they catch him soon, if he sees this article he will become more desperate and quite possibly kill again..
This animal needs put down..
 @dougrpdx not an animal...please do not insult the innocent animals. This guy sounds nuts.
 @whirledworld  @dougrpdx Please don't insult the innocent nuts out there; this guy is a life long criminal and an alleged murderer.
Here's hoping they catch him, dead-or-alive.
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Am I the only one who doesn't think the first picture in the flyer is the same guy as the other three pictures? The brown eyes would seem to be an issue.
So what time's the mob gathering?
The forensics pics dont match
Obviously the police have not talked with the family on Alduin Terrace in Lake O
 @PDXfanatic ??
In neighborhood that morning? come on guys..., I'm not a detective.
 @PDXfanatic And off your meds too.
I dont know. What about Hoover? The guy in the white van from OJAI, CA? White van, t-shirt head?
Detectives said they donât believe Hayes new the suspect. Do you mean knew the suspect?
@pensadora KATU is providing second graders with work experience. Either that or the staff writes like second graders.Â
 @I812  @pensadora They're just writing for their target audience. ;-)
 @I812  @pensadora KATU recently had a report about poor writing skills in skhool. I now suspect they were reporting on themselves. LOL