In the quiet community of Prineville, Oregon, the life of 70-year-old Joe Preston Hight, a Caucasian male, came to a tragic end on February 21, 2019. What initially was a somber passing soon unraveled into a deeply disturbing family tragedy that left the small town in shock. The initial news of his death gave no indication of the darkness that would soon be brought to light by the subsequent investigation.
Authorities with the Crook County Sheriff's Office discovered the grim reality
within a home located in the 3400 block of SE Umatilla Loop. Inside, they found not only the body of Joe Preston Hight but also those of his 39-year-old son, Joe Christopher Hight, and his 11-year-old grandson, Aiden Daniel Hight. The investigation, carried out by the Central Oregon Major Incident Team and the Oregon State Police Crime Lab, concluded that this was a case of murder-suicide.
The investigation determined that Joe Christopher Hight was the sole suspect in the deaths. It was concluded that he had shot and killed his father, Joe Preston Hight, and his own young son, Aiden, before turning the weapon on himself. The motive behind this devastating act was not publicly released. Due to the clear cause of death, the Crook County District Attorney, in consultation with the state medical examiner's office, determined that autopsies were not necessary. The tragic event left a family shattered and a community mourning the loss of three generations in a single, inexplicable act of violence.
