On August 13, 2024, Braxton Joe Busch, a 36-year-old resident of Coos Bay, Oregon, was found dead near Eastside Park, located at 5th Avenue and E Street in Coos Bay. The Coos Bay Police Department responded to a report of a man down at around 7:22 a.m. and discovered Busch's body, determining that his death was the result of homicidal violence.
The investigation into Busch's death was taken over by the Coos County Major Crime Team, which includes members from multiple local law
enforcement agencies. The police are seeking information from the public, particularly any video surveillance footage from the area around Eastside Park, and have asked potential witnesses to contact them at 541-269-8911 Ext. 1.
Braxton Busch was born on November 22, 1987, in Reno, Nevada. A celebration of life for him was scheduled to be held on October 12, 2024, at the Bastendorff Beach Campground Gazebo in Coos Bay.
The suspect in Busch's murder is Benjamin Remy, who appeared virtually in court on August 28, 2024, for his indictment. Remy is accused of shooting and killing Busch at Eastside Park on August 13. He faces a charge of second-degree murder with a firearm, which carries a potential life sentence with a mandatory minimum of 25 years if convicted.
During the indictment, Judge Martin E. Stone stated that Remy 'unlawfully and intentionally caused the death of Braxton Busch, another human being,' and that the state alleges he personally and intentionally used a firearm in the commission of the offense. Busch's mother, Kathy Laney, was present at the indictment and expressed the devastating impact of her son's death on the family.
Remy did not have a lawyer present during the indictment and is awaiting the appointment of a public defender due to a shortage of staffing and a conflict of interest within the public defender's office. The court has ensured that Remy will not be released from custody under the Betschart Order and will prioritize finding him an attorney for the preliminary hearing scheduled for September 4.
