Do you know who killed 29 year old Clayton Cobenais? On the evening of October 17, 1996, Clayton Cobenais, a 29-year-old transient, was fatally shot in Portland, Oregon. Witnesses reported seeing an argument between Cobenais and another man, both described as transients, near the corner of SE 3rd and Ash Street. The confrontation escalated when the second man pulled out a handgun and shot Cobenais, killing him.
The suspect was described as a white male, approximately 35 to 40 years old, with short brown hair and an unshaven face, wearing a dark blue jacket and jeans. Despite witness reports, the suspect was never apprehended.
Cobenais, a Native American, was known to police due to his transient lifestyle and struggles with alcoholism. He was often involved in fistfights when intoxicated, which may have played a role in the altercation that led to his death. Although the Portland Police Bureau's Cold Case Homicide Unit has continued to investigate this case, no significant leads have emerged over the years, leaving the murder unsolved.
Authorities are still seeking information and have encouraged anyone with knowledge of the case to come forward, offering cash rewards through Crime Stoppers for tips that lead to an arrest. Cobenais' case remains one of many unsolved homicides from the late 1990s in Portland, a period marked by increased violence and transient-related crimes.
