Police in Oregon say they have arrested the suspect they believe killed a man who went missing almost exactly three years ago.
Murphy Calvin Henry II, 54, was arrested on January 9th for the murder of Ryan Staggs, 30. Staggs was last seen on January 31, 2022, at her home in Newport, Oregon, and was reported missing the following month.
Despite numerous tips in this case, nothing has been linked to Sugggs, and the Lincoln County District Attorney's Cold Case Unit has continued to follow up on leads since May 2022, and has since identified Sugggs. “We continued to develop new information regarding the disappearance,” the Newport Police Department said in a statement.
While a search warrant was being executed in this case on December 27, cadaver dogs were “alerted to the odor of human remains in the dirt on the ground that had been removed from the backyard,” but no human remains were found. There wasn't. However, investigators were able to obtain additional information and identify additional witnesses.
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The Lincoln County Courthouse and Jail are located adjacent to the state of Oregon. Police say murder suspect Murphy Calvin Henry II is there. (Google Maps)
A shallow grave was discovered in “remote Lincoln County” on January 8, and remains believed to be Staggs's were also found. Police said formal identification by the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office is pending.
Staggs remains listed on two missing persons websites: the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System and America's Missing Persons.
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Missing person flyer for Ryan Staggs, who was last seen in January 2022. (Missing Persons in America)
A missing person poster shared said he was the owner of Happy Motors in Newport. Before his disappearance, in August 2021, he was shot in the face “by an unknown assailant” while sleeping at home.
The poster also notes that Staggs' car was missing at the time of his disappearance, but “was later recovered and sold at auction.”
Police said they are still investigating the disappearance and murder of Ryan Staggs.
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Henry is charged with second-degree murder, second-degree abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, police said.
Police have not released any details about a potential motive or cause of death, but say the case remains under investigation and anyone with information about Staggs' disappearance or murder can call 541-270-1855. ) or by email. tipline@newportpolice.net.
