Wilbur Jones

Do you know who murdered Wilbur Jones in 1975?
In the summer of 1975, Wilbur Jones, a 58-year-old white male, was living a quiet life in his apartment in North Portland. His health was poor, and he depended on a wheelchair or a cane to get around. Those who knew him were aware that he often drank to excess. His apartment was located in a complex on the 6800 block of NE Union Avenue, a street that has since been renamed Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. The building itself was then known as the Shangri-La Motel, a landmark that would later be converted into the Woodlawn Terrace apartments.

On the afternoon of Monday, June 16, 1975, the manager of the complex became concerned. He had not seen or heard from Mr. Jones and decided to check on him. After receiving no response to his knocks, the manager used a key to enter the apartment. Inside, he found the residence in a state of disarray, a clear sign that something was wrong. Tragically, he then discovered the lifeless body of Wilbur Jones.

The Portland Police Bureau was summoned to the scene and immediately launched a homicide investigation. The evidence within the apartment pointed to a violent and brutal struggle. An autopsy later confirmed that Mr. Jones had been beaten, and his death was ruled a homicide caused by a traumatic neck injury. Detectives from the Cold Case Homicide Unit began to piece together the final hours of his life, learning about his health issues and reports that he sometimes associated with prostitutes.

The investigation yielded a potentially significant lead from a neighbor. The neighbor told police that at approximately 12:30 a.m. that same morning, more than twelve hours before Mr. Jones was found, they had seen an unidentified man at the door of his apartment. The witness provided a detailed description of this individual. He was an African-American man, standing about six feet tall and weighing around 180 pounds. He had medium-length black hair and a small mustache.

The man’s clothing was particularly distinctive. He was reportedly wearing black trousers, black shoes, and a black, wide-brimmed hat. What stood out most was his jacket: a yellow leather jacket that was the length of a suit coat. Despite this detailed description and the efforts of investigators over the years, no arrests have ever been made in connection with the murder of Wilbur Jones. The identity of the man in the yellow leather jacket, and what he was doing at Mr. Jones's apartment in the middle of the night, remains a central, unanswered question in this case.

Decades have passed, but the case remains open. As of August 2018, the Portland Police Bureau continues to seek information from the public that might finally bring a resolution to this long-unsolved homicide. Investigators believe that someone, somewhere, may hold the key to understanding what happened to Wilbur Jones.

Crime Stoppers of Oregon is offering a cash reward of up to $2,500 for information that leads to an arrest in this or any other unsolved felony case. Investigators urge anyone with knowledge about the case, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Witnesses can contact the Cold Case Homicide Unit directly at (503) 823-0400. To submit an anonymous tip, individuals can call 503-823-HELP (4357) or use the P3 Tips app.