Dangerous Killer Could Go Free Next Week in Oregon

"Gorger is an animal that should remain caged for the remainder of his life and not be released into society," - Rich Bowen, Murder victim's father

Gorger is housed at Oregon State Hospital in Salem

(LAKE OSWEGO, Ore.) - A Tigard man sent to the Oregon State Hospital for life for killing one person and seriously wounding two others might be set free after a hearing next week in Salem.

In 2002, Rex Gorger was found guilty but insane by a Washington County Judge after he went on a rampage of bloodshed and carnage that spanned two days around Christmas 1998.

On Wednesday April 11th the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) will hold a hearing at 10:00 AM to determine if Gorger should be released.

"Gorger is an animal that should remain caged for the remainder of his life and not be released into society," said Rich Bowen. "If anything, the state should place him into the prison system to serve out the remainder of his life sentence."

Gorger confessed to killing 21-year old Chris Bowen, a former classmate from Tigard High School. Bowen was found dead in his apartment on December 26th, 1998. Police say Gorger stabbed Bowen 42 times in the neck and chest after Bowen let Gorger into the apartment around 4:00 AM.

Gorger was also found guilty but insane for attempted murder of a stranger 30 hours before he killed Bowen and assaulting his father 10 hours after Bowen's murder. The stranger, 37-year old Theron Marrs of California, was in the parking lot of a Tualatin church headed to a Christmas eve mass when Gorger jumped him from behind and stabbed him in the back, stomach, arm and thigh. The father, Richard Gorger, was also critically injured by his son the following day in the family's house in Tigard.

Victims told investigators the attacks came out of the blue. In a taped confession, Gorger explained he was mad at Bowen for running the vacuum cleaner and killed him, "because I felt it needed to be done." During court proceedings a psychiatrist for the defense testified Gorger was psychotic and schizophrenic, and should be sent to the State Hospital.

The prosecutor in the case said Gorger was, "a substantial danger to others."

Steve Doell, President of Crime Victims United of Oregon, pointed out, "we occasionally hear about dangerous killers like this going before the State Parole Board. We should not forget that there are some very disturbed and criminally insane people housed at the State Hospital."

At the 2002 sentencing Bowen's mother, Teresa, told the judge she was worried that state doctors would eventually let Gorger out, "and then we'll be right back here again." Rich Bowen said the case remains a source of anger and sorrow. "My family and I are still grief stricken over the loss of my son; a day doesn't go by where I don't think of him, I miss him dearly."

*The hearing will be held at the State Hospital at 2600 Center Street. NE Salem, Building 50.

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Special thanks to Crime Victims United, you can visit them on the Web at crimevictimsunited.org