OREGON CITY, OR – Authorities in Clackamas County say a man has been arrested on suspicion of killing his girlfriend during a dispute at their Oregon City home, later enlisting his teenage son’s help to dispose of her body in the Mount Hood National Forest.
William Glen Blake, 56, faces a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of 38-year-old Jennifer Ruth Stuart, along with several related offenses, including abuse of a corpse, unlawful use of a weapon with domestic intent, and tampering with evidence, according to jail records. Police believe the killing occurred on Aug. 15 at the couple’s residence on Hilltop Lane.
Stuart’s disappearance initially raised alarms, but the search ended more than two weeks later when her remains were discovered on Sept. 1 deep in the national forest. Investigators have yet to determine her exact cause of death.
As the investigation unfolded, sheriff’s officials revealed that a 15-year-old boy—Blake’s son—was arrested in connection with moving Stuart’s remains after the killing. The teen has been taken to the Clackamas County Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center, where he faces charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
Detectives say another of Blake’s sons, 17-year-old Austin Michael Blake, is now being sought for questioning in the case. Authorities have asked for the public’s assistance locating the older son, as well as a red Chevy Avalanche with Texas license plates that may be connected to the case.
Stuart had reportedly moved in with Blake in recent months after experiencing homelessness, according to people familiar with her situation. Community members who knew Stuart have expressed sorrow over her death and noted the unusual circumstances surrounding the discovery of her body so far from where she lived.
Friends say Stuart was trying to rebuild her life and described her as a kindhearted person. Her death has left many in the area stunned and searching for answers as investigators continue piecing together the events that led up to the homicide.
Law enforcement officials in Clackamas County have not disclosed further details about what sparked the fatal argument or the sequence of events that followed inside the Hilltop Lane residence. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.
William Blake remains in custody at the Clackamas County Jail and is being held without bond as prosecutors move forward with the case.
Clackamas County, located just south of Portland, has seen few cases as disturbing as this one in recent years, prompting a broad response from local and regional law enforcement agencies.