In the early morning hours of January 27, 2018, the life of Thomas Allen Peterson, a 39-year-old Caucasian male, was tragically cut short in Medford, Oregon. Peterson was asleep at an apartment on Ellendale Drive when he was shot in the head at approximately 1:30 a.m.. He was rushed to a local hospital and spent much of the day in critical condition before succumbing to his injuries.
The man responsible for the shooting was identified as 23-year-old Cody James Templeton.
Following the incident, Templeton was taken into custody by law enforcement. A grand jury was convened and, after hearing testimony from five witnesses, including law enforcement officers and civilians, they indicted Templeton on a charge of murder. The deliberation was swift, taking less than five minutes to return the indictment. Templeton was subsequently held without bail at the Jackson County Jail.
The case proceeded to a three-day bench trial in Jackson County Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Lisa Greif. After considering the evidence, Judge Greif found Templeton not guilty of murder but convicted him of the lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter. The court noted that Peterson's vulnerability, being asleep at the time of the attack, was a significant factor in the conviction. Templeton's history of substance abuse was also considered a contributing factor to the tragic events.
