New 'Cold Case' Web page Launched by Clackamas Sheriff's Office

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - A cold case squad in Oregon is hoping that a new dedicated Web page will assist them in their efforts to resolve a number of murders, some from long ago and some more recent, that have so far kept investigators guessing.

Clackamas Sheriff's Office Spokesman Jim Strovink, says this addition will allow public insight and it is often a tip from the public that allows an older case to move forward.

He says that at this point, the Web page currently showcases five unsolved cases

One is the fairly recent 2006 murder of William Andrew Corpe. Investigators say that sometime in the hours prior to 8:00 AM on October 20th, 2006, William Andrew Corpe was murdered while traveling down the Springwater Trail in the area of SE Johnson Creek Blvd and SE Bell Ave.

William Corpe was last seen alive in the early morning hours of October 20th, 2006. He was shot several times in the head, and neighbors in the area reported hearing shots at approximately 4:00 AM. Mr. Corpe’s body was discovered dumped in Johnson Creek at approximately 8:30 AM that same day.

To Report Info: Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office Tip Line at (503) 723-4949.

Another cold case featured in the site is the 1991 disappearance of Jennifer Lynn Delap, who also used the names Jennifer Storgard and Jennifer Walling.

Jennifer Delap's family asks for your help in solving this crime. She was last seen alive at 23640 SE Bohna Park Road in Boring, Oregon, on January 16th, 1991.

Jennifer Delap was reported missing from her home in Boring, Oregon. Her body has never been found and she police detectives presume that she was murdered.

There is a cash reward that accompanies giving information that leads to an arrest in this case. To Report Info: Call the CCSO Tip Line at 503-723-4949 or contact Det. Dan Kraus at 503-557-5811 or email him at: dankra@co.clackamas.or.us.

One victim whose demise is under investigation once again is an unknown African-American male who was six feet tall and 25-35 years old.

His body was discovered near 40505 East Hwy 224 in Estacada, Oregon, on November 11th, 2000.

Investigators say the unknown person’s remains were found near the Silver Fox RV Park in a wooded area. Information in this case like some others, is minimal. The cold case squad would like to hear from anyone who has information on this or other active cases.

Another person in the cold case files and featured on the Website is Rita Lorraine Jolly, who was born December 6th, 1955. She lived on Horton Road in West Linn.

Police say that on June 29th, 1973 at about 7:15 PM, Rita Jolly left her residence to take a walk. Rita Jolly was last seen in the West Linn area at about 8:30 to 9:00 PM -- possibly in the Robinwood area and/or on Sunset Ave.

Rita Jolly's description in 1973: 17-years old, 5'6", 130 pounds with long, light-brown hair. She was last seen wearing a brown Pendleton shirt, army fatigue pants or blue jeans and low-cut blue tennis shoes. She walks with an uneven stride.

To Report Info: Call the CCSO Tip Line at 503-723-4949 or contact Detective D. Calhoun at (503) 722-6746 or debbiecal@co.clackamas.or.us.

Some of the cases that this team will take on are not new at all, but yet remain unsolved. The idea of solving decades old cases is not that uncommon either, as seen recently in Marion County's arrest of a suspect in the Sherry Eyerly murder case from 1981.

In the early morning hours of April 13th, 1946, the fully clothed torso of an unidentified middle-aged female was found floating in the Willamette River near Oak Grove. On April 14th, 1946, the torso’s arms and legs were located in the Willamette River. On October 13th, 1946, the corresponding head was found in the Willamette River in the Oak Grove area.

Investigators determined that the cause of death was a blunt force injury to the head. Her head, arms and legs were then sawn off. The body was then wrapped in feed bags and weighted down with window sash weights.

The victim is described as a Caucasian female with brown and gray hair. She was 40-50 years of age, 5’2”-5’4” in height and roughly 125 pounds.

To Report Info: Call the CCSO Tip Line at 503-723-4949 or Det. John Krummenacker at 503-655-8830 or johnkru@co.clackamas.or.us.

Detectives hope the Cold Case Web page will become a new tool for the public to help investigators develop new leads that will resolve difficult cases.

"We look for any way possible to keep these cases in the public view -- just hoping for that break in the case that takes us to the suspect," said Lt. Kevin Layng of the Sheriff's Investigations Division.

"The Internet now lets us take Cold Case information directly to the public. Anyone can access this Web page 24/7, and we can update it 24/7. The chances of cracking one of these cases just went up a hundredfold."

There is no statute of limitations on the crime of murder -- and no homicide investigated by the Sheriff's Office is ever closed until it is resolved. Long after the original investigators have retired, these cases remain open.

Sheriff's Office detectives continue to pursue leads in murders, missing-person cases and unidentified recovered remains until these cases are resolved.

"This is an extraordinary example of citizens and homicide investigators coming together to help one another in order to bring peace to the grieving hearts of victims' families," said Det. Jim Strovink, public information officer for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.