Do you know who murdered Stephen Donald Mount in 1979?
On a summer day in Portland, Oregon, the life of a young man came to a tragic and mysterious end. Stephen Donald Mount, a 23-year-old Caucasian male, was found deceased on July 2, 1979. His body was discovered partially submerged in the Willamette River, near the east bank just south of the Steele Bridge.
Responding to a report of a body in the water around 12:55 p.m., police officers retrieved Mount from the river. It was immediately apparent that his death was not accidental; investigators determined he had died as a result of homicidal violence. The exact circumstances leading to his death, however, would prove to be elusive.
In the course of their investigation, detectives learned that Mount may have been involved in an altercation the night before his body was found. Witnesses reported seeing him in a dispute with two Hispanic men. Unfortunately, these witnesses were unable to provide any detailed descriptions of the individuals, leaving law enforcement with a promising but ultimately frustrating lead.
Decades have passed, but the murder of Stephen Mount remains an open and unsolved case. The lack of significant physical evidence and detailed witness accounts has presented a formidable challenge to investigators. No arrests have ever been made, and no suspects have been definitively identified. The case is now in the hands of the Portland Police Bureau's Cold Case Homicide Unit, which continues to seek information from the public. A cash reward is available for tips that lead to an arrest, a standing offer of hope for a resolution that has been long in coming.
