Do you know who killed 49 year old James Underwood in 1996?
James Underwood, a 49-year-old man from Portland, Oregon, was brutally murdered on March 3, 1996, a crime that remains unsolved to this day. Underwood, who was a transient and known to frequent the areas around N. Denver and N. Columbia Avenue, was found by a passerby lying face down near the Fred Meyer on N. Montana Avenue. An autopsy revealed that he had died from multiple stab wounds. Underwood had been working at the Palms Motel on N. Interstate, doing odd jobs such as cleaning rooms. Witnesses described him as someone who could be combative, particularly when under the influence of alcohol.
Despite receiving several anonymous tips over the years, including letters sent to the police, authorities have not been able to crack the case. Investigators continue to seek the author of those letters in the hopes of confirming the information they provided. The Portland Police Bureau encourages anyone with more information to come forward, and Crime Stoppers of Oregon has offered a reward for any tips that lead to an arrest. This case remains part of Portland's many unsolved cold cases, highlighting the challenges that investigators face in seeking justice for victims like Underwood.
