In the quiet community of Trail, Oregon, the summer of 2020 was shattered by a tragic and violent event. On the afternoon of August 24th, law enforcement responded to a call in the 3300 block of Highway 227. There, they discovered the body of 25-year-old Steven Garrett Sutton, a male who had succumbed to a fatal gunshot wound. The discovery launched a comprehensive investigation into his untimely death.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office took the lead in the case, activating the Major
Assault and Death Investigation Unit. They were joined by detectives from the Ashland, Medford, and Central Point Police Departments, as well as the Oregon State Crime Lab and the Jackson County District Attorney's Office. Together, they meticulously worked to piece together the events that led to Sutton's death.
After months of investigation, a breakthrough in the case came on January 15, 2021. Authorities arrested Tommy Ray Ormsby, who was identified as the victim's uncle. Ormsby, a resident of Trail, was taken into custody in connection with the shooting.
Ormsby faced serious charges, including Murder in the Second Degree, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, and Criminally Negligent Homicide. He was lodged at the Jackson County Jail with a bail set at $1,000,000. The arrest brought a sense of resolution to the community, though the tragic loss of a young life lingered.
