Do you know who murdered William \Bill\ T. McReynolds in 1989? On a cold December day in 1989, the quiet life of William "Bill" T. McReynolds, a 74-year-old retired clergyman, came to a tragic and violent end in his Portland, Oregon apartment. On December 17th, a man named Mark Rantovich let himself into McReynolds' one-bedroom residence at 230 NE 28th Avenue, using a key the older man had previously given him. There were no signs of a forced entry, a detail that would later become significant to investigators. Inside, a grim scene awaited Rantovich.
He discovered McReynolds in his bed, bound and brutally stabbed to death.
The subsequent investigation by police uncovered that several items were missing from the apartment, including jewelry and an ATM card. This theft provided detectives with their first major lead. Bank records showed that McReynolds' ATM card had been used on December 16th, the day before his body was found, at a location on 24th and Burnside. Investigators were able to track down a person who had used the same ATM around that time. This witness described two white males who had used a card just before and after him.
The witness's description of one of the men, including the clothes he was wearing, was a striking match for Mark Rantovich, the same man who had discovered McReynolds' body. Rantovich, a white male who was 26 years old at the time, became a person of interest in the homicide. When questioned, he told investigators he was unemployed, on probation, and survived by engaging in sexual acts for money. Despite the suspicion surrounding him, no arrests were made in the immediate aftermath of the murder. The case eventually went cold, leaving the question of who killed William McReynolds unanswered for years.
Decades later, the case remains an open investigation for Portland's Cold Case Homicide Unit. A significant development, however, has altered the course of the inquiry: Mark Steven Rantovich, the primary person of interest, died in Salt Lake City, Utah, in January 2004. His death meant he could never be formally charged or stand trial for the crime. Still, investigators believe he may have confided in others about what happened in Portland. They continue to appeal to the public for any acquaintances of Rantovich to come forward with information regarding any statements he may have made about "Bill" or his death.
