Benjamin Parker and the 2026 Forest Grove Mass Shooting
Overview
On a secluded, wooded property outside Forest Grove, Oregon, a domestic dispute escalated into a horrific mass murder in August 2026. Over the course of a single evening, 36-year-old Benjamin Charles Parker shot and killed five people: his girlfriend, her mother, her grandmother, her best friend, and the friend's partner. The attack, which also included the killing of five family pets, was a grim sequence of events where concerned family and friends were murdered one by one as they arrived to check on their loved ones. The crime was discovered the following morning when a neighbor reported a vehicle fire on the property. Parker fled the scene and drove to Washington state, where he confessed to his mother by phone before taking his own life.
The Attack
The violence began after a "horrible fight" between Benjamin Parker and his 26-year-old girlfriend, Stella Jade Kimsey, on the night of Thursday, August 20, or early Friday, August 21. Stella had told Parker he needed to leave the home they shared on the rural property at 47350 NW Otis Lane.
According to the timeline pieced together by investigators from the Washington County Sheriff's Office, the killings unfolded methodically on Friday. That afternoon, Stella was on a phone call with her best friend, 26-year-old Linsey Mae Haraldsen, when the call abruptly dropped. Unable to get back in touch with Stella, a concerned Linsey called Stella's mother, 60-year-old Rowan Karla Kimsey, who also lived on the large property. Rowan said she would go check on her daughter.
When Rowan failed to call back, Linsey became increasingly worried and decided to drive to the property herself. Later that evening, at 8:30 p.m., Stella's 85-year-old grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Kimsey, texted a friend. She was also unable to reach anyone and said she was going to the property with Linsey's partner, 27-year-old Alvin Raymond Chu, to see what was wrong.
Investigators believe Parker murdered Stella first, likely shortly after her call with Linsey dropped. He then killed Rowan when she came to check on her daughter. Linsey was the next to arrive and was killed, followed by Mary and Alvin when they reached the property later that night. All five victims were shot multiple times with a .22-caliber handgun. Parker also shot and killed two dogs and two cats. A third cat was shot and wounded and had to be euthanized.
After the killings, Parker attempted to cover up the crime. He covered the bodies with tarps and set multiple fires, including at each of the bodies, the main home, a carport, and inside a car where Stella's body was found.
Discovery and Investigation
At 5:27 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, a neighbor saw flames and called 911 to report a fire. Firefighters from Forest Grove Fire & Rescue arrived at the remote property and, while dealing with a vehicle fire, discovered human remains. Recognizing the "suspicious circumstances," they immediately withdrew and alerted the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies arrived to what Sheriff Caprice Massey would later call the most complex crime scene she had witnessed in her 22-year career. The investigation involved multiple agencies working to piece together the events on the secluded, heavily vegetated property.
Cell phone data showed Parker's phone leaving the property at 4:42 a.m. Saturday, just before the fire was reported. He drove away in a silver Toyota Tacoma registered to Rowan Kimsey. His phone was shut off about 30 minutes later.
The case took a significant turn on Sunday, August 24. Parker's mother contacted detectives to report a chilling phone call she had received from her son at 7:55 p.m. the previous night. From Enumclaw, Washington, Parker confessed to the murders. He told his mother the attack was premeditated and that he had originally planned to kill three people but ended up killing five. He also told her he was not prepared to face the consequences.
Using this information, authorities in Enumclaw located Rowan Kimsey's Tacoma behind a Safeway grocery store just before 3 p.m. on Sunday. Inside, they found Benjamin Parker, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Victims
- Stella Jade Kimsey, 26 — Parker's girlfriend, she was described by family as fiercely passionate, sensitive, and a lover of animals and nature. She lived on the property with Parker and her mother.
- Rowan Karla Kimsey, 60 — Stella's mother, she was a talented and respected Portland-based traditional tattoo artist. A family member remembered her as artistic and peaceful.
- Mary Elizabeth Kimsey, 85 — Stella's grandmother and the matriarch of the family. She was an activist and was remembered as the core of her close-knit family.
- Linsey Mae Haraldsen, 26 — Stella's best friend, who was considered a sister to her. She was enrolled in a beauty school in Portland at the time of her death.
- Alvin Raymond Chu, 27 — Linsey's partner. He accompanied Mary Kimsey to the property out of concern for their loved ones.
The Perpetrator
Benjamin Charles Parker, 36, lived with his girlfriend Stella Kimsey on her family's property. He had been dating Stella since 2025. Public records showed Parker had a minor criminal history in Rhode Island but no record in Oregon. Investigators learned that Parker had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and found prescription medication bottles in his name at the scene, though it was unclear if he was actively taking them. There were no records of prior domestic violence calls to the police, restraining orders, or "red flag" gun laws being used against him. However, text messages from Mary Kimsey indicated that family members were aware he could "get very upset."
In his confession, Parker told his mother the killings were premeditated, though he did not provide a motive. The initial trigger appeared to be Stella Kimsey's decision to end their relationship and ask him to move out.
Aftermath and Legacy
The murders sent a shockwave through the tight-knit community of Forest Grove. In the wake of the tragedy, officials and advocates highlighted the connection between the killings and domestic violence. At a press conference, Amy Babcock, executive director of the Domestic Violence Resource Center, noted that the most dangerous time for a survivor is often when they are preparing to leave an abusive relationship.
A statement from the Kimsey family remembered their lost loved ones as passionate and caring people who adored animals, nature, and each other. In a remarkable display of compassion, Stella's sister, Alexis, asked the public to show respect and empathy to the Parker family, acknowledging that they too were navigating immense and unexpected grief. The surviving farm animals on the property were successfully rehomed, a small comfort noted by the grieving family. The investigation concluded with Parker's suicide, closing the case without a trial.
