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Unsolved: The Murder of David Michael Grubbs

Shocking Death in Small Town, Oregon

By A. GracePublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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Image Credit: The Author

Hunter Park: Green, Idyllic and the Scene of a Horrific Crime

Ashland, Oregon, is a stunning college town surrounded by pine-covered mountains. It is known for its scenic beauty, including acres of land set aside for its highly-lauded parks. Hunter Park features mature trees, tennis courts, and beautiful hiking and biking paths. This is where they found the body.

What Happened to David?

Early in the evening on a chilly, November day in 2011, David Micheal Grubbs left his job at the local Shop n' Kart in the direction of his house. It was only a 30-minute walk along a popular biking path, but David never made it home.

He was found about a half-hour after his death by a bystander who believed, at first, he was unconscious. Instead, Grubbs had been nearly decapitated, suffering multiple injuries to his head and neck. His death was a shock to the community.

Grubbs was just 23 years old at the time of his murder. Not only is Ashland a peaceful town with a low crime rate, but Grubbs was a six-foot-tall, well-liked man with no known enemies who was violently killed on a heavily trafficked trail. How could this happen?

His friend, Mig Windows, was quoted by News 10 as saying, "He was a big guy, he was tall, he was the sort of person who I would ask to walk me home at night. So, the fact that he wasn't safe walking home at night, is terrifying."

Continuing Investigation

An autopsy revealed that a medium or long, bladed weapon was used in the killing. Police investigated and found that not only do many people own swords, but a surprising number carry them on their person.

NBC quoted Chief O'Meara saying, "After David was murdered, everybody had a sword on them. Swords were popping up left and right, we were getting complaints and calls. It is actually shocking the number of people who walk around with swords". It was a dead-end.

Investigators considered the possibility of a gang initiation. MS-13 members are known for decapitating their victims, as they did during the gruesome murder of a young male in a Maryland park, 2017. Ashland is not known for gang activity, but sitting so close to the I-5, it's a possibility.

Authorities have also investigated the local larping (Live Action Role Play) community because they regularly practiced with medieval swords in nearby Lithia Park. Could the death have been an unfortunate accident caused by an overzealous role-player?

Ten Years Later, the Case Remains Unsolved

Since the initial investigation, very little in the way of new leads have been turned in to detectives. No suspects have ever been named in this case.

Police interviewed a person of interest, Christian Delaurentiis, who was convicted of murdering and dismembering his roommate in 2012. So far, he has not spoken about Grubbs' slaying.

Retired Detective, Charlie Retzer took time to look through all the evidence in 2016 to determine if there were any missing leads. He found that the investigation has been thorough, and investigators are certain nothing has been overlooked.

Chief O'Meara recently told the Mail Tribune, "Whoever it is, we ask that they show some humanity and let the family and the community have some closure on this, especially the family." He went on to say that he dreams of solving the case and giving the community a chance to heal.

David Micheal Grubbs left behind a loving but devastated family, who are still working through his shocking demise. Investigators continue to implore the public to come forward with any new information and have offered a reward of $22,200. When will this tragic crime be solved, at last?

Originally published on Medium.com

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About the Creator

A. Grace

I'm a writer, native to the Western U.S. I enjoy writing fiction and articles on a variety of topics. I'm also a photographer, dog mom, and nature enthusiast.

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