Possible witness sought in Washington Co. homicide
NEAR NORTH PLAINS, Ore. – Detectives in Washington County are investigating a homicide near North Plains and are searching for a possible witness who they said has not been seen since the day of the crime.
Deputies got an emergency call from James Fronsman, 51, who said he found his wife, 50-year-old Theresa Fronsman, dead in their house when he came home.
It happened on Dec. 12 in a home at 24450 NW Pumpkin Ridge Road. The home is north of North Plains in Washington County.
Deputies said there were “many suspicious circumstances” about the death, according to Sgt. Bob Ray. The state medical examiner said the cause of death was homicidal violence. No other details about the death were released.
Detectives are searching for a neighbor who lives in a mobile home on the same property as the Fronsmans. Robert Hardison, 50, has not been seen or heard from since Dec. 12.
Tuesday, 12 officers from the sheriff's office tactical negotiation squad spent six hours searching the woods near the Fronsmans' home, a spokesman said.
Detectives think Hardison may be hiding somewhere on the 90-acre property.
"We think he would be very comfortable out there," one official said.
Detectives believe Hardison may have information that is critical to their investigation.
They do not consider the homicide a random act, and said the suspect is not a danger to the public.
Anyone who sees Hardison or has information about his location is asked to call the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
I wouldn't want to challenge this guy to a game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.
Ok let's see: they said he's missing, he's the suspect, call if you see him, but he's not a danger. Homicide supsect, but not a danger. Got it. I'll just invite him in for dinner while we wait for the cops.
He kind of looks like Gary Cole.
And this is just now in the news, when it happened last week?  Talk about giving the suspect a huge head start.Â
 @theobserverÂ
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This is just now in the news because that's the way the investigators wanted it. Plus, with all the bigger stories occurring at the same time do you think anyone would have paid attention?
Hardison went back to the 70s, the same place his haircut came from.
Strange. He's not a suspect but he's missing? Must be dead or scared shltless.
 @Lips Unless it's just better that they not say he's a suspect?
"Robert Hardison, 50, has not been seen or heard from since Dec. 12.
Detectives believe Hardison may have information that is critical to their investigation.
They do not consider the homicide a random act, and said the suspect is not a danger to the public."
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SO, does he have information or is he the suspect?
@Cindy B. They are not saying he is a suspect, but you all have connected the dots. They are looking for him and this is putting more eyes out there to find him.
 @Cindy B. A suspect always "has information critical to the investigation." He easily could be both.