On January 20, 2015, a homicide occurred in Klamath Falls, Oregon, resulting in the death of 49-year-old Donald Clinton Black. The incident took place in the 2000 block of Montelius Street, where Black's body was discovered early in the morning. Several 911 calls were made around 2 a.m. regarding a possible homicide, prompting the Klamath County Major Crime Team to be activated to investigate the scene.
Initially, the investigation identified a 24-year-old Klamath Falls man, Zachary
Nathaniel Craig, as a person of interest. Craig was described as a 6-foot-2-inch tall, 180-pound white male with black hair and blue eyes. However, as the investigation progressed, Craig was cleared of any wrongdoing by the authorities.
The focus of the investigation then shifted to another individual. On January 28, 2015, 33-year-old Joseph Everett Woodward was taken into custody in connection with the murder of Donald Black. Woodward, who had a history with law enforcement including about nine misdemeanor charges and one felony, was identified as the suspect in the homicide. The Klamath County District Attorney's Office confirmed that Woodward was now in custody following the murder investigation.
During the investigation, authorities also sought information from the public regarding a white sedan, believed to be a newer model Honda Civic, which was seen leaving the Montelius Street area around the time police responded to the murder. However, the primary focus remained on Woodward, who was ultimately arrested and charged in connection with Black's death.
The exact cause of death and details about the murder weapon were not immediately released to the public. The home and surrounding property where the homicide occurred were secured by authorities to preserve the crime scene for further investigation.
