OR OR - David Grubbs, 23, Ashland, 19 Nov 2011

[InTheGarden]

You may want to think twice about not locking your doors. Have you not heard about home invasion robberies or car jackings? Publicizing no one in Ashland locks their doors puts the welcome mat out to criminals who are looking for easy targets.

All it takes is one violent crime against you and it changes your life forever, trust me. I keep my doors locked while home and the first thing I do when I get in my car is lock the doors. Why be a volunteer victim?

I still live in the same town I grew up in, but times have changed. The carefree community of my youth no longer exists. Unfortunately, we have "real" crime now and one must use common sense to protect themselves.

 

[gooniequeen]

I really hope they are really checking out this JT character.... I know Missizzy you assume they have but after pulling up his articles he seems to fit the bill for someone capable of such an act.....perhaps.

Even if his intention was not to hurt anyone...lighting 11 homes on fire, throwing stuff off an overpass on to a busy interstate and throwing rocks and chasing middle school girls threatening to "kill them" (which apparently happened along the railroad tracks)

Will any locals be attending the forum next week - I'd be curious to hear what is said and if JT is mentioned.

http://gateway2ashland.com/local-news/general-news/2450-thiry-gets-early-release-from-jail.html

 

[gooniequeen]

another article with interesting insight on JT. Particularly the comment by a man who claims to know him --

JM, 50, has known Thiry for six years. Both live on
the street and have spoken at various times over the years.
"John's a good dude, but he can change in a minute," Marler said.
"Sometimes he could get violent with people. He wasn't afraid of
anyone."

http://www.orenews.com/Contests/2011/bnc/webhtml/img/bnc2011_212-c-3c.pdf

I wonder if JT was seen hanging around the grocery store that day where David worked and there was some sort of confrontation.

 

[scaryworldwelivein]

http://www.orenews.com/Contests/2011/bnc/webhtml/img/bnc2011_212-c-3c.pdf

When you read this article, the store that David Grubbs worked at (Shop-n-Cart) is next door to and in the same parking lot as Bi-Mart, as well as right around the corner from Goodwill.

 

[gooniequeen]

http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.town...207-b60c-ca854f976de0/4ed056fb286a5.image.jpg

better view of where the crime took place. Apparently a bunch of tree limbs may have been hacked off in the immediate area at about the same time as David's murder.

It does not appear that there is a lot of "hiding" spots in the area - looks pretty wide open to me.

 

[scaryworldwelivein]

"A woman riding her bike down a path in Ashland, Oregon (Saturday, November 19th, around 4:30 PM, just at sunset) comes upon another man who has discovered another young man, apparently passed out, but this turns out not to be the case. The young man, 23-year-old David Michael Grubbs, was dead, his head nearly decapitated by an instrument with a most long blade, maybe a sword or a machete. The woman, the second person to arrive on the crime scene, is the one who calls 911.

One other thing; she sees a man moving away from this vicinity, but doesn`t see him clearly enough to make a positive identification."

http://thesop.org/story/20111126/is...stival-and-david-grubbs-grotesque-murder.html

"Police have little to go on. No one has come forward to say they witnessed the slaying. No weapon has been found. The 911 call came from a woman riding her bike down the path, who was stopped by a man who found Grubbs lying in the bike path. They initially thought Grubbs was passed out, but on looking closer saw the deep wounds around his head and neck, said Police Chief Terry Holderness. Investigators don't think either of them had anything to do with the slaying. The woman saw a man leaving the area, but didn't get a good look at him. Police have not found him."

http://hosted2.ap.org/ALDEC/TDNational/Article_2011-11-25-Shakespeare%20Town%20Murder/id-d16e66dadc0e4c19aa805303c5b258c1

Did she see the killer?
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“This has been a pretty safe town where we don't have to lock our doors and the crime rate is really low,” said Ashland resident Erik Wallaback. “And now we have this. It shakes things pretty badly.”

http://www.ktvl.com/articles/ashland-1202732-shakes-homicide.html

"The attack did not stop joggers and bikers from using the path. David Steinfeld, a forest restoration specialist with the U.S. Forest Service, stopped to look at the shrine while jogging with his two sons: Joel, who works in public relations in Portland, and Logan, an industrial designer in San Francisco."

"David Steinfeld said he was making a point of not locking his doors at home, not wanting this apparently random attack to take away the feeling of safety that he loves about Ashland."

http://hosted2.ap.org/ALDEC/TDNatio...wn Murder/id-d16e66dadc0e4c19aa805303c5b258c1

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[gooniequeen]

Scary - good stuff.

I too agree this "I'm not locking my doors" attitude frightens me. I live in Pennsylvania (outside of Philly) in a quaint village very similar to Ashland and my doors are ALL locked right now.

As for the 2 men mentioned early on that the police were looking for - I feel like I read somewhere they found them to be "boys" who were there watching the crime scene being processed. But this news article makes it sound very different.

I have been reading up on several cases in the Ashland area - and sadly it sounds like to local LE may not be the most errrrrr, efficient group around. Any insight on that based on your short time in Ashland thus far.

 

[Snoopster]

You may want to think twice about not locking your doors. Have you not heard about home invasion robberies or car jackings? Publicizing no one in Ashland locks their doors puts the welcome mat out to criminals who are looking for easy targets.
All it takes is one violent crime against you and it changes your life forever, trust me. I keep my doors locked while home and the first thing I do when I get in my car is lock the doors. Why be a volunteer victim?

I still live in the same town I grew up in, but times have changed. The carefree community of my youth no longer exists. Unfortunately, we have "real" crime now and one must use common sense to protect themselves.

I don't believe that anyone said that no one in Ashland locks their doors, thus encouraging criminals. I said that I didn't lock my doors, but I don't live anywhere near Ashland.

And, yes, I have heard of home invasions and carjackings. None have happened where I live, though. (Luckily.)

Unfortunately, it sounds like Ashland is quite beautiful, with somewhat moderate temperatures and thus attracts some transient types. This can mean that there is a higher level of criminals or people with mental challenges. This doesn't warrant the disrespectful comments toward Ashland in the post directly above. This town is terrified right now, and they deserve compassion, not rude comments.

I have no doubt that the comments in the above post were made out of frustration. We are all frustrated by criminals and violence, that has such a horrific impact on people and communities. So many families have suffered.

[Off soapbox now.]

I hope the culprit of the heinous crime is caught soon so that this particular community can regain some peace of mind.

 

[shamu22]

All communities must work within the law. If JT could be prosecuted he would be. He was already found not guilty of one charge. It is not that he is here with free reign because of compassion, it is because we work within the law. We are not a vigilante society. I have lived here 22 years. I live right near the bike path. This is the most severe crime in the years I have lived here. It has affected everyone. Regarding the previous comment about other recent offenses by someone linked as a relative to JFK, all communities have things that are in the shadows. It has zero to do with the integrity and desirablity of Ashland as a town. If you live any place and imagine you live in an idyllic environment, please think again. For those of us that live here, our hearts are broken by this sad, sad event.

 

[Snoopster]

Snoopster, I think that InTheGarden is referring to the quotes taken from the newspaper that I had posted earlier, referring to not locking doors in Ashland.

I do also need to apologize for my comment about feeling safer in Coeur d' Alene (remember Joseph Duncan in 2005 in CDA) than Ashland. Don't get me wrong I have been visiting Ashland since the early 1990's and chose to move here due to the wonderful community it is, as well as the wonderful weather. Yes, folks are tolerant here, but that has also produced a kindness to our fellow man. Unfortunatley some have taken advantage of the town's kindness. Sorry if my post caused anyone to be upset.

You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, 'scaryworld'! There is nothing wrong with saying that you felt more comfortable in Coeur d'Alene. I was originally going to post a reply regarding the locked doors, but recognized that it was only to defend myself. I have made mistakes in the past so who was I to judge? However, once there was another post, slamming an entire community, and a community that was suffering, well, then I had to speak up.

I am not better, and my own community is not better than any other. Communities consist of both good people and bad. It's more luck of the draw. My thoughts are with all of the people in Ashland right now. I can't imagine what you are going through!

Shamu, I am so sorry to hear about what you and your fellow citizens are going through. I am so sorry that this has happened in your community.

Stay safe all!!

 

[scaryworldwelivein]

thanks snoopster.
shamu, very well put.

 

[Missizzy]

I think I was the poster who said that "no one locks their doors..at least not consistently". Obviously that's a gross generalization but it is true to what I know of Ashlanders. I've lived in this town for 18 years and no one in my large family has ever had a house key. I've never locked a car. Are we naive? Probably. But one has to experience Ashland to know what I'm talking about. It's a very unique place to live and has been very good to our family.

JT was brought to trial and the travails of the lack of possible charges and options for that sick man have been well reported. The Mail Tribune and Daily Tidings has a number of fine articles about him in their archives. Yes, he most likely has schizophrenia and certainly stands out in Ashland. But I've lived in Southern California and the Bay Area and he certainly wouldn't stand out in those locales. I know that he is checked on frequently and must have been one of the first investigated in this crime. However, I hardly think that throwing rocks at pre-teen girls automatically makes him a suspect in a brutal sword murder. The fire attributed to him was caused by a discarded cigarette which got out of hand in dry weather. Even though the devastation was immense, it was clear from the outset that he attempted to put it out and then ran for safety.

As far as Mr. James Auchincloss, we have a thread. He's been a neighbor of mine for many many years and I've had cause to worry as I have nine sons.

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111706"]James Auchincloss to plead guilty to sex abuse felonies - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]


As a side note, my husband and daughters attended the Lighting Ceremony and Holiday Parade yesterday and I hear it was totally packed as usual. Ashlanders do pick themselves up. They are a very positive and fun-loving group of people. I'm quite proud to say that Ashland is my town. Almost everyone who lives in Ashland has made a concerted choice to make this town their home. I've never discovered another town quite like it.

 

[Missizzy]

I don't think this has been posted. It's a very interesting article about JT and the restraints of the justice system in dealing with those who are mentally ill.

http://www.nami.org/Content/Microsi...do_with_John_Thiry_-_Mail_Tribune_1-30-11.pdf

 

[scaryworldwelivein]

very interesting article, missizzy

 

[Missizzy]

What a sad state of affairs, huh?

 

[scaryworldwelivein]

very, really brings alot of insight.

 

[gooniequeen]

Touching article about David's memorial service yesterday. What a shame.

http://m.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs....127/NEWS/111270330/-1/NEWSMAP&template=wapart

 

[gooniequeen]

these photos were sent to me from a resident of Ashland -- taken since the murder approx. 500 ft from the attack......

thoughts?

 

[AlwaysShocked]

I too was a person who did not lock the doors. The community in which I lived was certainly considered to be a low crime are. Then I came home one day and my house had been robbed. I suppose it was a case of "if they really wanted in, it wouldn't have mattered if the doors were locked. They could have broken a window." But, they didn't have to even bother.

The only thing I will say is that the police officer advised me to START LOCKING MY DOORS REGULARLY - even when I am IN the house. Ad I actually had to go out and purchase new locks for the doors because none of us knew where the keys were any more.

It did not take long to develop the new habit of locking up. And then you just do it all the time.

Please, please folks, do what you need to do to develop this as a habit. You will be doing yourself and your children a favor to do so. My daughter moved to another town for a job after she graduated college. She got her first apartment. I was glad to know that she was used to locking the door!

 

[Troy's mom]

these photos were sent to me from a resident of Ashland -- taken since the murder approx. 500 ft from the attack......

thoughts?

Very scary stuff going on there.