Riddle, Or (KMTR) Neighbors say they are shocked and saddened, hearing that the father of Stephanie Condon has died of a gunshot wound.
On Wednesday, February 15th, at about 11:15pm, the 911 center received a call from Christine Condon who stated her husband, 53-year-old Martin Condon, had shot himself and needed help.
“They were just a great all American family and bad luck struck them." Mike Hinkes has known the Condons for more than 20 years.
Neighbors say the Condon family is no stranger to tragedy. Marty and Christine Condon’s daughter Stephanie disappeared from Tri-City in 1998. More than a decade later in 2009, her remains were found near Glide.
The only suspect in the case, Dale Wayne Hill, was acquitted in 2011. Neighbors say Hill’s acquittal was a tipping point for Stephanie’s father.
"When Dale Hill got off, I saw a change in him", says Hinkes, "he never really would talk about it, but you could see that it was on the tip of his tongue. Just knowing Marty I know it was eating him up inside."
Then late Wednesday, Marty was shot. Deputies and emergency responders attempted life saving measures, including CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
It’s difficult news for those close to the family.
"We feel for them, and I just can't imagine going through something like this," says Hinkes.
Law enforcement has struggled with Marty’s death as well. Many have had personal ties to the family since Stephanie disappeared.
"We went though a ten plus year investigation with that family so we're very familiar with them", says Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Dwes Hutson.
“Investigators are going to do the same work that they do at someone's house that they didn't know,” says Hutson, “they want to do a complete and thorough investigation and cover all the bases so that we can do the best job for the citizens of Douglas County and for the Condon family."
Dwes says investigators have not yet ruled his death a suicide, and the investigation is ongoing.
While detectives continue to look for answers, friends and neighbors remember a family before bad fortune struck.
“They had fun, they were nice, they were good people, really good people, and my heart goes out to them", says Hinkes.
