Do you know who killed 43 year old Christine Lawson in 2003? In the early morning hours of June 10, 2003, a security guard on patrol in Portland's Old Town neighborhood made a grim discovery. In the doorway of a building on Northwest 2nd Avenue, between Couch and Burnside Streets, lay the body of a 43-year-old female, later identified as Christine Ione Lawson. The initial scene gave investigators pause, suggesting a more complex story than a simple death on the street.
An autopsy would later confirm the suspicions of the detectives, revealing that
Christine Lawson had died as a result of "homicidal violence." Evidence at the scene where her body was found led police to believe that she had not been killed there. Instead, they theorized that she was murdered at another location and her body was subsequently moved to the doorway where it was discovered. This detail added a layer of mystery to the case, leaving authorities with two crime scenes to consider, one of which was completely unknown.
Christine, who was known to local police, lived a transient lifestyle and had family in California. She was known to frequent the Old Town area and struggled with crack cocaine use. Despite the circumstances of her life, her death was no less tragic, and the investigation into who was responsible began immediately. However, the case quickly grew cold.
To this day, the murder of Christine Ione Lawson remains unsolved. There have been no arrests made in connection with her death, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Portland Police Cold Case Homicide Unit continues to seek information from the public, hoping that someone will come forward with the key piece of evidence that will finally bring justice for Christine and provide answers to her family.
