6/3/24
Bend, OR. – Official Release: At approximately 9:26 a.m. on Thursday, May 30, Bend Police were called to the area of the 3300 block of North U.S. Highway 97 for a welfare check. A person had gone to check on 62-year-old Bend resident David Carroll Hickman at his campsite on the property behind the Pacific Pride gas station and found him unresponsive.
When officers arrived, they found Hickman dead in a ditch to the west of the gas station, and determined his death was suspicious. The Department’s investigative unit was called in, and officers performed a death investigation and canvassed area businesses for witnesses and video surveillance.
On Friday, May 31, the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and found Mr. Hickman died as a result of multiple injuries, including stab wounds, and his death was determined to be a homicide that took place either late on Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning.
As the investigation continued, detectives determined using video surveillance that 31-year-old Bend resident Brian Lee Wynn had been with the victim on the evening of the homicide and was a person of interest in the case. Officers located Wynn at approximately 4:08 p.m. on Friday near NE Second Street and Emerson Avenue. He was taken into custody without incident or injury. He was taken first to the Bend Police Department and then lodged at the Deschutes County Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon.
At this time, Bend Police continue to investigate and are asking the public for help in locating a blanket that may have evidence of Mr. Hickman’s homicide. Police believe the blanket, seen in the attached photo, was worn by Wynn around the time of the homicide.
If you find the blanket, please call Det. Chad Owens at 541-728-1242.
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