OR - Apache Hightower, 24, murdered, St Helens, 20 Sept 2016 *Arrests*

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Slain mom’s final words to her dad: ‘That’s good’
Apache Hightower left behind an 11-month-old daughter

apache-rose-hightower.jpg

As detectives in Columbia County try to piece together the death of Apache Hightower, her mother and father opened up and shared memories of their child who left behind an 11-month-old daughter.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office said Hightower’s body was found Tuesday afternoon by a passerby in the 3000 block of Pittsburg Road, northwest of St. Helens. The person who made the discovery did not have a cell phone but was able to flag down another driver who called 911.

Deputies arrived at the scene and found the body down an embankment. Her death was ruled a homicide.
 
If you search her name on Facebook you can find a plea/post from her (dad?) JB which provides more context and possibly someone responsible..


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I live not even three miles away from where this young woman was found. How am I just now hearing about this?!

Editing after reading:

So she lived in southeast Portland, which is about an hour to ninety minutes drive from St. Helens. That's not the furthest away that I've ever heard for people to be hiding bodies, but it's a really odd place to do it if you ask me. Southeast Portland is very close to a lot of forests if you go farther east, if you go North east you will hit Mount Hood, if her killer went on the 26 instead of the 30 he or she would have been halfway to the coast in the time it took them to get to St. Helens. Not to mention there are almost always speed cams on the 30.
 
I cannot seem to link her Facebook page from my phone but her name on Facebook is Apache Rose Peacock


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The POI has a long criminal history in Jackson County Oregon where Apache grew up. She herself was arrested several times too as a Google of Medford Mugshots will show. But as the last link shows, Apache had many friends in Medford who spoke very highly of her.

https://kobi5.com/news/person-of-interest-in-homicide-has-lengthy-jaco-rap-sheet-36930/

Apache's parents talk about her before the POI was named and arrested.

http://koin.com/2016/09/22/slain-moms-final-words-to-her-dad-thats-good/

There was a vigil for Apache in Medford. There were many lovely comments about her on FB.

https://www.facebook.com/KTVL-CBS-10-News-Medford-180780400322/
 
3 indicted for murder of Portland's Apache Hightower


Jesse Allen Lane, 28, Stephanie Jeanne Toney, 20, and Charles William Vernon, 29, appeared in court Thursday after being indicted Wednesday before by a grand jury, said District Attorney Stephen Atchison.

Lane charged with: aggravated murder, murder, first-degree kidnapping, felon in possession of a firearm, hindering prosecution, and strangulation constituting domestic violence.

Vernon charged with: aggravated murder.

Toney charged with: aggravated murder, murder, first-degree kidnapping, and hindering prosecution.

The indictment alleges that Lane was in a domestic relationship with Hightower, reflected in each count against him which states they were crimes of domestic violence. It reads that he kidnapped her and participated in the maiming and terrorizing that led to her death. He strangled Hightower, the indictment said.


Suspects indicted in Hightower homicide case

Lane faces four counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder, one count of felony murder, two counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of strangulation, and two counts of hindering prosecution. The indictment against Lane indicates he and Hightower lived together or were in a relationship at one point, classifying the case as domestic violence.

If convicted, the defendants could each face the death penalty, or life in prison.
 
6 arrested in connection with Apache Hightower murder

Three suspects are being charged in a Columbia County Court with the murder of Apache Rose Hightower.

...
Now, KGW reports three more have been charged with hindering prosecution in Hightower murder case. 42-year-old Randall Schwirse, 46-year-old James Brewer Jr., and 38-year-old Shelley Edwards were charged on November 7th. Edwards is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Brewer faces a charge of credit card fraud, and Schwirse is being charged with possession of methamphetamine.
 
Man sentenced to life in prison for killing Portland mother

Jesse Lane Pleaded guilty on Thursday to the murder and kidnapping of Apache Rose Hightower.
Lane was Hightower’s ex-boyfriend.

Lane takes plea for Hightower murder

On Oct. 5, 2017, Lane appeared before Judge Ted Grove under a sheriff’s escort, cuffed at the waistline and wearing the striped uniform of an inmate. A red swastika tattoo could be seen high up on his right forearm. He gave no statements, responding to the judge simply with “yes, sir” to most questions.

The plea bargain Lane took sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole for one count of murder. Grove said Lane would be sentenced at a later time for one count of first-degree kidnapping.

Grove read from Lane’s plea petition in court: “On 9-20-16, without consent or legal authority, I took Apache Rose Hightower from one place to another with the intent to substantially interfere with her personal liberty, and for the purpose of terrorizing her, and caused her death. This crime constitutes a crime of domestic violence,” Lane wrote.
 
St. Helens woman pleads guilty to criminally negligent homicide

As one portion of a plea deal with the Columbia County District Attorney's Office, Toney, 21, of St. Helens, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, which came with a four-year sentence, with credit for time served since her arrest in October 2016.

Columbia County District Attorney Jeff Auxier said Toney's hearing is not the end of the road.

Friday's sentencing hearing was the first part of sentencing for charges. She still faces charges of murder, aggravated murder, kidnapping and hindering prosecution. She is scheduled to reappear in court at a yet-to-be-determined date for sentencing on those charges.

Murder suspect refuses plea deal; says trial documents withheld

In October, roughly a year after his arrest, the 31-year-old inmate wrote to Columbia County Circuit Judge Ted Grove to complain that his attorneys were withholding trial documents from him, and jail staff wouldn't allow him to fully review discovery documents related to his own trial.

Vernon also informed the judge he doesn't intend to take any plea deal offered to him.

"I will be making absolutely no deal with the D.A. or the A.G. on this case so there will be a trial meaning establishing my defense is and will be critical," Vernon stated.

Vernon is scheduled for trial in 2019.

http://www.koin.com/news/1-suspect-in-apache-hightower-murder-pleads-guilty/918018019

James Brewer Jr. pleaded no contest to hindering prosecution in late September. A sentencing date will be set at a later date. A no contest plea means that Brewer is not admitting guilt but not disputing the evidence prosecutors have.

Shelley Edwards is scheduled to take a plea deal and will be sentenced in November. Currently, she is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and hindering prosecution.

Randall Schwirse is awaiting trial for hindering prosecution and possession of meth. No dates have been set.

Laquint Ford had been charged with hindering prosecution. His case was dismissed in August.
 

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