On May 31, 2017, the life of 26-year-old Brandon Michael, a male who had recently moved to Douglas County from the La Pine area, was tragically cut short. Near Lawson Bar, an area east of Riddle, Michael was shot multiple times with a small-caliber handgun, leading to his death. An autopsy later confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound.
The events surrounding Michael's death also involved his girlfriend, Kayla Viol, and their 10-month-old baby.
After Michael was killed, Troy Russell Phelps, a 34-year-old from Myrtle Creek, allegedly abducted Viol and her child. Phelps reportedly took them to a residence in Myrtle Creek. Viol was able to escape from the residence and contacted authorities from a neighboring home. Fortunately, neither she nor her baby sustained any physical injuries during the ordeal.
Following the incident, law enforcement officers located and arrested Troy Russell Phelps. At the time of his arrest for the homicide, Phelps was already in custody at the Douglas County Jail on unrelated probation violations. In connection with Brandon Michael's death and the subsequent events, Phelps faced a litany of charges, including murder, first-degree kidnapping, menacing, felon in possession of a firearm, coercion, and second-degree arson.
