On February 20, 2021, at approximately 6:15 am, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office Dispatch received a call reporting an unconscious male lying alongside the road near Government Hill Road in Siletz, Oregon. Upon responding to the scene, Lincoln County Sheriff's deputies found Richard Allen Mann, a 36-year-old resident of Logsden, deceased. The initial investigation revealed evidence suggesting foul play, and it was later confirmed by the Medical Examiner that Mann's death was caused by
gunfire.
The Lincoln County Major Crime Team was activated to handle the investigation, which involved a collaborative effort from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Oregon State Police Criminal Investigation Unit Oregon State Police Forensics, Toledo Police, Newport Police, Lincoln City Police, and the Lincoln County District Attorney's Office. On February 23, 2021, investigators executed search warrants on two residences in the 500 block of Tolowa Court in Siletz, which is roughly a half mile from where Mann's body was found. During these searches, a vehicle and additional evidence were seized.
As the investigation progressed, law enforcement focused on gathering more evidence and conducting interviews with individuals who had knowledge of the incident. One of the individuals of interest was Donovan Eugene Carey-Bennett, a 23-year-old from Siletz, who was initially sought as a witness to the incident. The public was asked to contact Detective Abby Dorsey if they had any information regarding Carey-Bennett's whereabouts.
The investigation culminated in the arrest of two suspects on the evening of March 2, 2021. Gavin Whitehawk Epperson, a 27-year-old resident of Siletz, was arrested and booked into the Lincoln County Jail on charges of second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree assault, and third-degree conspiracy to commit assault. Donovan Eugene Carey-Bennett, the 23-year-old who was earlier sought as a witness, was also arrested and booked into the Lincoln County Jail on charges of second-degree conspiracy to commit murder, third-degree assault, and third-degree conspiracy to commit assault.
The arrests were the result of a thorough investigation involving multiple search warrants, the seizure of evidence, and extensive interviews. Despite the detailed investigation, authorities have not released any specific details on what led up to Mann's killing. The collaborative effort of various law enforcement agencies was crucial in identifying and apprehending the suspects in this case.
