Do you know who murdered 77 year old Grace Turel in 1988? In the early morning hours of April 22, 1988, the quiet of a Southeast Portland neighborhood was broken by the sight of smoke billowing from the home of 77-year-old Grace Turel. A passing garbage man, making his usual rounds at approximately 6 a.m., was the first to notice the danger emanating from the residence at 7625 SE 21st Avenue. His immediate attempts to enter the home were thwarted by the thick, choking smoke that filled the air.
With urgency, he alerted neighbors to call 911, summoning the fire bureau to the scene.
Once firefighters were able to battle their way inside the smoke-filled house, they made a grim discovery. The body of Grace Turel, a widow who had lived alone since her husband's death two years prior, was found within her home. It soon became apparent that this was no ordinary house fire. The investigation would reveal a much darker and more violent series of events leading to her death.
Investigators determined that Grace Turel had been assaulted before the fire was intentionally set, indicating that the blaze was an act of arson meant to conceal a more personal and brutal crime. Those who knew her described Grace as a cautious woman, one who was security-conscious and would not have readily opened her door to a stranger. This detail deepened the mystery surrounding who could have gained access to her home and inflicted such violence. Despite a thorough investigation at the time, robbery was ruled out as a motive, leaving the reason for the assault and subsequent fire shrouded in uncertainty. To this day, the case remains unsolved, with no arrests having been made and no specific suspects publicly identified. The violent end to Grace Turel's life continues to be an open wound for the community, a cold case still awaiting a resolution.
