In the quiet, residential area of Bull Mountain, near Portland, a somber discovery was made inside a three-story home in February 2017. The bodies of 48-year-old Lisa R. Malone, a female, and Leonard Forster, also 48, were found by concerned relatives who had not heard from the couple. What unfolded appeared to be a tragic end to a story of personal and professional turmoil.
Investigators entering the home found multiple weapons and evidence of heavy drug use, pointing towards a grim
final chapter for the couple. Authorities have characterized the event as a murder-suicide, suspecting a suicide pact between Malone and Forster. While no note was left to explain their actions, the circumstances surrounding their deaths suggest a mutual agreement to end their lives. There was no apparent history of domestic violence between the two.
The tragic event was preceded by growing trouble in their professional lives. Malone worked as a bookkeeper and Forster as a service manager at Fahey Machinery Co. The owner of the company had recently filed a complaint, alleging that a truck and nearly $35,000 had been stolen. Suspicion had fallen on Malone after the company registered a loss and she was unable to produce financial reports. Shortly after, both she and Forster stopped showing up for work, sending a vague email about a family illness and spotty cell service.
Concerned by the lack of communication, relatives went to the home. They made brief contact with the couple, who were upstairs and assured them they were fine but did not wish to talk. The relatives then heard what they thought might be a gunshot, possibly from the television. After more muffled gunshots were heard, they called 911. By the time deputies arrived, the lights in the house were off, and with no legal right to enter, they could only wait. It was the relatives who re-entered the home early the next day to find the devastating scene. The investigation concluded that Leonard Forster fatally shot Lisa Malone before taking his own life. As this was determined to be a murder-suicide, there have been no other arrests or suspects in the case.
