Do you know who killed 40 year old Alfredo Velasquez in 1996? In the early moments of a Wednesday, just as midnight cast its long shadows, a grim discovery was made in Portland, Oregon. On June 19, 1996, the body of 40-year-old Alfredo Velasquez, a Hispanic male, was found lying in the street. The location was near the intersection of North Willamette Boulevard and Philadelphia Avenue, in the shadow of the St. John's Bridge's support struts.
The initial investigation into his death suggested a violent end; it appeared he had been run over by a vehicle and possibly strangled.
Mr. Velasquez was known as a hardworking janitor for Mervyn's. By all accounts, he led a quiet life and was not known to be involved with drugs or heavy alcohol consumption. His sudden and violent death was a shock to those who knew him. The circumstances leading up to his demise remain shrouded in mystery, with only fragments of the events of that night coming to light. Witnesses in the area reported hearing an argument between unknown individuals, including at least one female voice, shortly before Mr. Velasquez was found. The sound of squealing tires pierced the night, a possible indication of a hasty departure from the scene.
Despite the initial investigation and the witness reports, the case grew cold over the years. No arrests have ever been made in connection with the death of Alfredo Velasquez, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The argument and the screeching tires remain the last echoes of a confrontation that ended in tragedy, leaving behind unanswered questions and a case that continues to await a resolution. The Portland Police Bureau's Cold Case Homicide Unit still lists the case as open, hoping that someone might come forward with the information needed to finally bring closure to the decades-old mystery.
