Hillsboro, OR. — The Washington County District Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit, working with the Hillsboro Police Department, has formally linked serial killer Cesar Barone to the previously unsolved 1992 murder of Elizabeth Wasson.
Wasson, 82, was found murdered in her Hillsboro home on September 23, 1992. Known throughout her neighborhood as the Avon Lady, she was the widow of a pastor and remembered by family and friends as a pillar of the community. Despite extensive investigative efforts at the time, the case remained unsolved for more than 30 years.
Barone was convicted in 1995 of murdering four women and was sentenced to death. Prosecutors also proved he sexually assaulted and strangled three other women who survived the attacks. Although Barone had been considered a suspect in Wasson’s murder, investigators at the time were unable to establish a direct forensic link. Barone died in prison in 2009.
The case was reopened in 2023 when Hillsboro Police Detective Megan Townsend reexamined the original investigation. As part of that review, physical evidence from the crime scene was submitted to the Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory for advanced testing. Technicians identified male DNA on the evidence, which conclusively linked Barone to Wasson’s murder.
“For years, this family lived without answers,” Townsend said. “Today, we’re finally able to give them the truth they deserved from the beginning. Our thoughts remain with them, and we honor the life of Elizabeth Wasson by ensuring this case is no longer left in silence.”
The Washington County Cold Case Unit was launched in 2020 with federal funding secured by the District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The grant supports a dedicated cold case detective and forensic consultant focused on cases involving identified DNA and assists local agencies investigating unresolved violent crimes.
“While many years have passed, we hope this result brings some closure to the victim’s family and to the community,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Allison Brown, who oversees the Cold Case Unit. “This office remains dedicated to delivering justice for victims and their loved ones, no matter how much time has passed.”
District Attorney Kevin Barton praised the investigative work, saying each case resolved reinforces that victims and families are not forgotten.
Wasson’s surviving family members have been notified of the findings and expressed relief that the case is now closed. They have requested privacy at this time.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Brown and Detective Townsend are available for media interviews. Requests can be coordinated through Public Information Officer Stephen Mayer.
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