On a Friday evening in the high desert of Central Oregon, the lives of a young couple were tragically cut short. Mackenzie Noel Lyman, a 21-year-old White/Caucasian woman, and her best friend and the love of her life, 18-year-old Bailee Ray Candello-Southwick, were killed on February 26, 2016, in the Crooked River Ranch community, near Terrebonne. The two were vibrant young adults with a zest for life; Mackenzie, known as "Kenzie," was remembered for her energy, joy, and love, having recently joined the Army Reserves and working at the Brightwood Mill in Redmond.
The couple was living with a roommate, 20-year-old Mitchell Julio Morris, at a home on SW Sand Ridge Road. On that fateful evening, a report was made of "four large bangs" and Southwick's pickup truck was seen leaving the residence. When deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office arrived, they discovered a grim scene. Inside the home, they found the bodies of Mackenzie and Bailee, both of whom had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Mackenzie was found in her bedroom, while Bailee was in the living room.
The investigation quickly focused on their roommate, Mitchell Morris, who had fled the scene in Southwick's truck and driven to Salem. Police were able to track his movements, and on the morning of February 27, a Salem police officer spotted the stolen vehicle. Morris, who had been out with a friend to get food, was arrested without incident. His friend was unaware of the murders and cooperated with investigators.
During questioning by police, Mitchell Morris admitted to shooting both Mackenzie and Bailee. He stated that there had been no argument or fight leading up to the unprovoked attack. According to his account, he left his bedroom, shot Southwick who was on the couch, and then shot Lyman after she came out of her room. After the killings, he packed a bag and fled. Despite his confession, Morris never provided a clear motive for the murders, leading the district attorney to characterize it as a case of "killing for the sake of killing." In March 2017, Mitchell Morris was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison with no possibility of parole for the aggravated murders of Mackenzie Lyman and Bailee Southwick.
