Police identify Portland man found dead on Hayden Island; suspect indicted

Richard Lee Bowers was identified by Portland police as the guy who was slain last week during a violent altercation with another man at an encampment on Hayden Island.

Bowers, 57, died from blunt force injuries, according to medical examiners, authorities said Friday.

Bowers was found dead on the west end of the island when officers arrived at 11:30 a.m. on June 26 in response to reports of a body. Timothy L. Hudson, 68, was taken into custody by detectives in connection with the murder.

According to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, Hudson was indicted by a grand jury on Thursday on counts of second-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, felony strangulation, illegal use of a weapon, and animal abuse.

The accusations of attempted murder and strangulation, according to the DA’s office, were related to an alleged assault on Bowers’ partner, who was present when the altercation started.

Hudson told police that he got into a fight with Bowers and went too far, according to a probable cause document.

According to court documents, Hudson claimed to have lived in an encampment in the region for five years and recently consented to let Bowers and his partner to remain in a spare tent he had erected.

Hudson claimed that Bowers hit him on June 25 after the three had been drinking for a few hours. According to criminal filings, Hudson said officers he didn’t immediately fight back after Bowers apologized. According to the affidavit, the situation deteriorated after Hudson gave Bowers a forgiving kiss on the head, which sparked a brawl between the two. According to the affidavit, Hudson instructed Bowers’ companion to leave the encampment and call 911 following the altercation.

According to records, she reported Bowers’ injuries to 911 at approximately 9:40 p.m. Portland Fire & Rescue arrived and used a boat to search the shore. According to documents, they bumped upon Hudson, who left after refusing medical assistance. Firefighters fled the scene after failing to locate Bowers.

Around 11:30 a.m. the following day, someone contacted 911 and said that Hudson had informed him that he had been involved in a fight the previous evening and had killed another man. According to the caller, Hudson returned to his tent. Hudson was located by police and sheriff’s officers, who also found Bowers’ body. Hudson was taken into custody by the officers.

According to court documents, police discovered a hammer close to one of the tents.

According to the affidavit, a medical examiner concluded that Bowers had sustained severe injuries, including a shattered skull and broken neck.

His passing was the city’s seventeenth homicide of the year. After a deadly shooting outside Portland’s Central Library, another person has now been killed in a homicide.

On July 8th, Hudson is expected to appear in court.

Austin De Dios reports on programs, politics, and other topics in Multnomah County. You can reach him at @AustinDeDios, adedios@oregonian.com, or 503-319-9744.