Former Marine Dies From Injuries Recieved During Assault: Suspect at Large

The person-of-interest is described as being medium height with a medium build. He has dark eyes, dark hair with a weathered, drawn face. He is also described as having a bad complexion.

Sketch of suspect in Salem assault that turned deadly. Photo: Marion County Sheriff

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Marion County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public help to identify a person of interest from an incident that occurred earlier this month involving a local man who was a drill instructor during his earlier years as a U.S. Marine.

September 12, 2009 at 6:45 a.m., Kevin Shultz with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, says deputies responded to the Salem Hospital Emergency room regarding the report of a 74-year old Salem man who had come in with significant injuries.

Deputies made contact with the victim, Darrel Valentine, who indicated he had been walking his dog around 4:30 a.m. on the south side of Santana Park, in the 800 Block of Shawnee Drive SE, Shultz said.

"He said he observed a white male on a bicycle riding northbound on Shawnee Drive SE. Mr. Valentine indicated the suspect stopped several feet in front of him, got off of his bike and approached him. The suspect then said 'Give me your money' and when he said he didn't have any, the suspect struck him several times in the face with his fist."

Mr. Valentine remembered falling to the ground and then he passed out. When he woke up he got back on his feet and walked back to his home prior to driving himself to the Emergency Room.

Mr. Valentine reported that the suspect was unknown to him and he did not recall ever seeing him in the neighborhood. Mr Valentine was released from the hospital on the same day.

Shultz says Mr Valentine later returned to the hospital, his condition worsened, resulting in his death.

"An autopsy was performed on Mr Valentine, but t.he results of the autopsy are not available at this time. Marion Count detectives continue to seek information from anyone that was in the area of Santana Park, Shawnee Drive SE or Shenandoah Ave SE between 4:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on the morning of 9-12-09; who observed a white male, possibly in his 30's, riding a bicycle.

Since the original press release on this investigation, detectives received information from a resident about a White male adult in the area and close to the time the assault occurred. The resident was able to provide a Salem Police sketch artist with a description of the person.

The person-of-interest is described as being medium height with a medium build. He has dark eyes, dark hair with a weathered, drawn face. He is also described as having a bad complexion. The sketch is being provided with this release. If you have any information about the person-of-interest, please call Detectives at (503)540-8079.