On December 16, 2022, a tragic incident occurred at the home of Paige Jordan Vannorsdall in the 800 block of Southeast Sun Drive in Madras, Oregon. Devyne Briggs, Vannorsdall's 28-year-old ex-husband from Prineville, was fatally shot during a visit to pick up their 6-year-old son. The couple had a complex and contentious history, having married in 2015 and divorced in 2020, with Vannorsdall granted sole custody of their child.
However, there were ongoing disputes over the terms of the court-ordered parenting plan, with Briggs alleging that Vannorsdall had not made their son available to him as agreed upon.
Madras police officers responded to the scene shortly after 6 p.m. and found Briggs with multiple gunshot wounds. He was declared dead at 6:13 p.m. The investigation, led by the Tri-County Major Incident Team, revealed that more than one shot was fired, and other people were present in the home at the time of the shooting. However, details about the specific number of wounds and the weapon used were not immediately disclosed pending an autopsy.
Paige Jordan Vannorsdall, who was 26 years old at the time, was arrested and lodged in the Jefferson County Jail without bail. She was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault, and unlawful use of a weapon, with the charges constituting domestic violence. A grand jury returned an indictment on these charges, and Vannorsdall pleaded not guilty to all three during her arraignment.
The case was marked by allegations of abuse within the family. In July 2022, Vannorsdall had obtained an 'order of immediate danger' from Judge Annette Hillman, alleging that their son had disclosed incidents of abuse by his father, including physical violence and threats. However, in late August 2022, Judge Wade Whiting dismissed this order, stating that Vannorsdall had not provided clear and convincing evidence of immediate danger to the child, and the original parenting plan was reinstated.
In July 2024, Vannorsdall entered a negotiated guilty plea to a reduced charge of first-degree manslaughter. In her plea petition, she acknowledged that on December 16, 2022, she intentionally caused the death of Devyne Briggs while acting under an extreme emotional disturbance. This plea was part of an agreement between prosecutors and defense attorneys to recommend a 214-month sentence, followed by 26 months of post-prison supervision. The second-degree murder charge she initially faced was to be dismissed as part of this agreement.
The sentencing hearing was emotionally charged, with the family of Devyne Briggs expressing frustration and anger over the plea deal and the reduced charge. They had hoped for a murder trial, feeling that the manslaughter charge did not adequately reflect the severity of the crime. Vannorsdall appeared in court in an orange jail jumpsuit but did not speak during the hearing, citing safety concerns and previous outbursts.
Ultimately, Vannorsdall was sentenced to nearly 18 years in prison, a term that reflected a compromise between the potential sentences for murder and manslaughter. The sentencing brought to a close a case marked by intense emotional turmoil, custody disputes, and allegations of abuse, leaving the family of Devyne Briggs and the community deeply affected.
