David Wonderling

David A. Wonderling, a man known for his love of card tricks and pranks, was 57 years old when his life was cut short in a violent incident in Selma, Oregon. Born on September 15, 1964, in Redding, California, David moved to Selma in 2006 from Antioch, California. He built a life in the small community, working as a chef and maintenance man at the historic Oregon Caves Chateau. His work also took him to the Great Cats World Park and the Kerby Trailer Park. Those who knew him remembered his playful nature and his knack for inventing random things. David was a father and a grandfather-to-be, survived by his daughter, Kaitlynn L. Smith, her fiancé Isiah Owens, and his father, Beauford “Ralph” Wonderling. At the time of his death, his family was eagerly awaiting the birth of his grandson, Eli Michael Damm Owens.

The afternoon of Sunday, March 6, 2022, turned tragic when Josephine County Sheriff's deputies and Oregon State Police troopers responded to a report of a shooting in the 3400 block of Lakeshore Drive. Upon arriving at the rural property, they made a grim discovery. Two men, later identified as David Wonderling and 63-year-old Kenneth Ward, were found deceased in the driveway. One man’s body was on the ground next to the driveway, while the other was inside a parked vehicle.

As officers began to secure the scene and render aid, they were confronted by Thomas Charles Rockholt, the 44-year-old resident of the property. Rockholt was armed with a holstered gun, and what followed was a tense standoff that lasted for nearly an hour. According to police reports, Rockholt was agitated and hostile, yelling at the officers, slapping his firearm, and throwing rocks and pieces of 2x4s at them. The situation escalated dramatically when Rockholt poured gasoline on the body on the ground and on the vehicle containing the other victim, stating he was going to get a lighter.

Faced with a volatile and dangerous situation, two deputies ultimately fired their weapons, striking Rockholt. He was then taken into custody and transported to a hospital for medical treatment in stable condition. On March 29, 2022, the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office announced that an investigation had found the deputies were justified in their use of force against Rockholt.

In the initial stages of the investigation, the Josephine County Chief Deputy District Attorney, Lisa Turner, stated that it appeared David Wonderling and Kenneth Ward had shot and killed each other. Thomas Rockholt was not charged in connection with their deaths. Instead, the charges against him stemmed from his actions during the standoff with law enforcement.

On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, Rockholt was arraigned in Josephine County Circuit Court from his hospital bed. He faced a list of charges that included unlawful use of a firearm, second-degree assault, unlawful use of other weapons (rocks and wooden boards), four counts of attempting to assault public safety officers, attempted second-degree arson, and attempted second-degree abuse of a corpse. His bail was set at $100,000. The case against him was ongoing as of late March 2022, but further details on the final outcome of these charges have not been made publicly available. The deaths of David Wonderling and Kenneth Ward left a painful void in the lives of their families and the Illinois Valley community.