In June of 1999, the body of 17-year-old Alexandria Nicole Ison, a White female, was discovered in the wooded expanse of Forest Park in Portland, Oregon. Known to be living on the streets, she had been grappling with substance use. Her death was the third in a series of brutal murders that had begun to instill fear within the community.
Alexandria, along with two other women, 28-year-old Lilla Moler and 26-year-old Stephanie Russell, were all found in Forest Park over a period of weeks.
Each of the women had been raped and strangled. The similarities in their backgrounds and the manner of their deaths quickly led investigators to believe they were searching for a serial offender. All three victims were homeless, had histories of drug use, and were involved in sex work.
The pattern of violence and the proximity of the crime scenes prompted an intensive investigation. Authorities soon focused on 32-year-old Todd Alan Reed as a prime suspect. Reed had a prior conviction for attempting to strangle a sex worker, which placed him on law enforcement's radar.
Investigators placed Reed under surveillance and were able to match his DNA to evidence found at two of the crime scenes. In July 1999, Todd Alan Reed was arrested and subsequently charged with multiple counts of aggravated murder. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, bringing a measure of justice to the tragic and violent end of Alexandria Nicole Ison's life.
