On March 20, 2021, Jerry Dale Burns, a 57-year-old resident of Happy Valley, Oregon, was fatally shot along with another individual, 25-year-old Connor James Gaines, in a double homicide at the Reflections apartment complex in unincorporated Clackamas County.
The suspect in this case was identified as Amanda Kate Gregson, a 39-year-old woman. The incident occurred when Gregson shot and killed both Burns and Gaines, and then fled the scene on foot.
Deputies from the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office responded quickly to the scene, where they found both victims deceased. Despite an initial search, Gregson was not immediately located.
However, a few hours later, on Sunday, March 21, 2021, at 1:47 a.m., deputies responded to a welfare check at the Monarch Hotel located at 12566 SE 93rd Ave in Clackamas. During this welfare check, they discovered that the subject they were checking on was indeed Amanda Kate Gregson. Deputies detained Gregson without incident and transported her to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office for an interview with detectives. Following the interview, Gregson was booked into the Clackamas County Jail on a charge of Murder in the First Degree.
The investigation was extensive, involving multiple personnel including detectives, crime scene investigators, and representatives from the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office and the Clackamas County deputy medical examiner. K9 Ronnie from the Oregon City Police Department also assisted in the search for the suspect and potential evidence around the hotel.
Gregson's trial began on March 22, 2022, after a week-long bench trial. She was found guilty of Murder in the First Degree for the killings of Jerry Burns and Connor Gaines. On April 12, 2022, a Clackamas County judge sentenced Gregson to life in prison with a minimum of 45 years, which she will serve at the Oregon State Penitentiary.
The case was highly publicized, with the Sheriff's Office seeking additional information and tips from the public throughout the investigation. The community was urged to contact the Sheriff's Office Tip Line with any relevant information regarding the events leading up to the double homicide.
