Do you know who murdered Ye Nashwood Billy in 1985? On July 3, 1985, the body of Ye Nashwood Billy, a 59-year-old Native American man, was discovered in a landscaped area near the Portland Fire Bureau on SW Ash and Front Avenue in Portland, Oregon. A passerby spotted Billy early in the morning, prompting the arrival of law enforcement. An autopsy later confirmed that Billy had died from blunt force trauma.
Despite the efforts of the Portland Police Bureau's Cold Case Homicide Unit, no suspects were ever identified, and his case remains unsolved.
Ye Nashwood Billy was known to be a transient in the southwest and northwest areas of Portland and had a history of alcohol abuse. Although he was known in the local community, he did not have any known enemies. This, combined with the lack of witnesses and substantial forensic evidence, made solving the case particularly challenging. Law enforcement has continued to seek leads in the years following Billy's death, with appeals to the public for any information that might help solve the case. Crime Stoppers of Oregon has also offered a reward for tips that lead to an arrest, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in these cold cases.
Over the decades, the case has grown cold, a fate shared by many other unsolved homicides in Portland during that time. Various factors, such as limited forensic technology at the time and insufficient resources, contributed to the stagnation of the investigation. However, the Portland Police Bureau remains committed to solving Billy's murder, with the case still open under their Cold Case Homicide Unit. The case illustrates the difficulties that law enforcement faces when investigating crimes involving marginalized individuals, particularly in an era before modern forensic advancements.
