Carl Horning, a 47-year-old White man, was found dead on the morning of Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at Horning's Hideout, a popular family-owned venue for weddings and outdoor activities in North Plains, Oregon. A lieutenant with Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue, Horning had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies who responded to reports of a shooting around 9:35 a.m.
attempted to provide aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Carl’s older brother, Robert Horning, was present when deputies arrived. He was initially detained but was released from custody several hours later. The Washington County Sheriff's Office named him a person of interest in the homicide investigation that followed. For nearly seven months, the case progressed quietly while the community awaited answers.
As the investigation unfolded, court documents revealed a deep-seated conflict within the Horning family. The dispute centered on the control of Horning's Hideout and the care of the family matriarch, Jane Horning. Months before the shooting, Carl and one of his sisters had petitioned for a conservatorship over their mother, alleging she was suffering from memory loss and was the victim of financial exploitation. Court records described a "tug-of-war" among her children over the family business and assets, with Robert opposing the conservatorship.
On July 29, 2024, a Washington County grand jury indicted Robert Horning for his brother's death. He was arrested at Horning's Hideout that afternoon and charged with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Robert was booked into the Washington County Jail and pleaded not guilty.
Robert Horning’s trial began on October 27, 2025. His defense attorneys argued that he acted in self-defense, claiming Carl had approached him "in anger" while brandishing a wine bottle. The prosecution contended that the shooting was unprovoked and the culmination of the long-running feud over family finances and control of the property.
Jury deliberations began on November 7, 2025. After three days, the jurors informed the judge they were deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous verdict. On November 12, the judge declared a mistrial. As of November 2025, the Washington County District Attorney's Office has announced its intention to retry the case.
