Our very own Alisha contributed a chapter in Mitzi Szereto's new book, Women Who Murder.

Laronda Marie Bronson was believed to be involved in sex work when she went missing. On November 19th, 1982, Laronda was waiting for a bus at a stop in Portland. Since that day, those who cared for Laronda have not heard from or seen her. At the time, Laronda was only 18 years old. She was about 5’7 and 115 lbs. Laronda is a black woman with black hair and brown eyes. Both of her ears have double piercings and she has scars on her neck and chin. She may use the name Michelle Marie Hall or her nickname, Bird. Today, Laronda would be 59 years old. If you have any information regarding the location of Laronda Marie Bronson- last seen at a Portland bus stop on November 19th, 1982, you are asked to contact the investigating agency, King County Sheriffs- at 206-296-3111.

Oakley was living in foster care from when she was three months old until she was three years old. At that time, she was sent to live with her biological parents, Jordan Bowers and Andrew Carlson. The foster parents raised alarms when the decision was made, but the state moved ahead with the placement. In early 2021, neighbors noticed that 5-year-old Oakley was no longer being picked up by the school bus. Realizing the little girl hadn’t been seen in quite some time though her parents still lived in the same location, a request for a welfare check was made. Now, two years later, there is still no sign of Oakley. Her parents have been questioned about her whereabouts and haven’t disclosed them. Both parents have or are still serving time for unrelated offenses. Her father, Andrew Carlson served a year for allowing two other children in the home to be in contact with methamphetamine and for not providing one of the children their required medication. Jordan Bowers, Oakley’s mother, is serving 20 months for child endangerment. She was sentenced to another 36 months for identity theft. It’s been reported that Jordan struggles with a serious gambling addiction, leading some to theorize that she could have sold her daughter for money. One child in the home has told people that quote ‘there is no Oakley’ and that after a house fire, Oakley was quote ‘under her mother’s bed and in the woods’. The woods had been mentioned to another adult by that same child, where they were described as saying Oakley had wandered off and been eaten by wolves. Abuse towards Oakley had been witnessed by the other children in the home. It was even reported that Oakley had been kept locked in a cell under the stairs. Since the parents haven’t been working with the police, putting together a timeline has been difficult, as has an investigation. A formal report was filed in early December 2021, even though Oakley hadn’t been seen for approximately 10 months before that. There is currently an $85,000 reward for information that leads to finding Oakley. She was last seen in early 2021. The sheriff’s office worked with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to create an age-progressed photo showing what she might look like as a 6-year-old. If anyone has any information about Oakley Carlson’s location or disappearance, you are asked to contact the Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office at 360-964-1729.

On October 21st, around 4:30 am, 34-year-old Brandon Coleman was walking near the Morrison Bridge on-ramp at Naito Parkway. As he did, a vehicle struck him, and did not stop. Brandon had been in the area at that time as recent developments in his mental health led to him choosing to live on the streets. Those who loved him don’t care about his housing or mental health status. He was someone they cared for. He was someone who loved to make others laugh and listen to music. Without any witnesses, vehicle description or suspected drivers, Brandon’s family is desperate for answers as to who killed him. His father, Ron, hopes that by sharing information, someone will come forward. He hopes someone will give a tip about a damaged car or other clues as to who killed his son. Brandon had people who loved him. For them, he didn’t deserve to die like this and they don’t deserve to not have justice. If you have any information about the hit and run that took Brandon Coleman’s life on October 21st, 2023, you are asked to email CrimeTips@police.portlandoregon.gov. You can reference Case Number 23-275661.

While Maria Negrete and her boyfriend were driving down SW Hall Blvd on Monday, September 18th, 2023, she accidentally dropped her phone out of the car window. Her boyfriend pulled over and stopped so that he could retrieve it. This was around 9pm. Though Maria’s boyfriend exited the car to get the phone, Maria followed him and she was struck by a vehicle. The car did not stop after hitting her. Maria was taken to the hospital for her injuries but succumbed to them two days later. Maria was the mother of 5 children, two of which are underage and have had to deal with not only the loss of their mother but being placed with a new guardian. Someone was behind the wheel that night and knows what they did. Perhaps you have a friend or neighbor whose car suffered damage mid-September of 2023. The family just wants to know what happened and to get closure. You can help Maria’s family by donating to their GoFundMe - just search Maria Negrete. If you have any information about who struck and killed Maria, you are asked to call the Tigard Police Department at 503.718.2677 or you can leave a tip at CrimeStoppersOfOregon.com. There is a $2,500 reward for tips that lead to an arrest.

Like so many young people in Portland, Wilma and her friends spent a Saturday night at Dixie’s Tavern in Old Town, downtown Portland. When the bar closed at 2 am, Wilma left on her own as some of her friends had left before her. At 11:30 am, her roommates called Wilma’s parents in California to tell them she never returned home after their night out. One of Wilma’s friends was able to track her phone and it showed that after she left Dixie’s at NW 3rd and Couch she wound up at the Japanese American Historical Plaza- just a couple of blocks east, at the waterfront. Her phone was recovered, but there was no sign of Wilma. 28-year-old Wilma Acosta had only lived in the Portland area for a few months. She was happy working at her new job as a phlebotomist at Kaiser Permanente. She also enjoys doing art, trying new recipes, and tattoos - having several of her own, including a spiral on her right elbow, a creature on her left inner forearm, the letter “z” tattooed on her right knee, and a deer on her left knee. Wilma also had piercings and a scar on her right eyebrow. At the time she was last seen, she was wearing an Apple watch, a lace top, jeans, boots, and a black coat. Wilma is Latina, has brown eyes, shoulder-length black hair, and is roughly 5’5 and 150 lbs. Wilma Acosta’s family is desperate to find their beloved daughter. They’ve come to Portland from California to search for and give out fliers- but they need help from locals. To help, you can join the Searching for Wilma Acosta group on Facebook. There you’ll find the family’s change.org petition asking the portland police to investigate her disappearance further. If you see Wilma or know of her whereabouts, you can call 911. If you have additional information regarding Wilma’s disappearance, you are asked to contact Portland Police at Missing@police.PortlandOregon.gov- you can reference case number 23-306375

On September 26, 2010, at around 2:00 a.m, Officers responded to a call regarding shots fired at the intersection of NW Couch Street and NW 2nd Avenue. When they arrived, they found 19-year-old Andre Dupree Payton, lying in the street from a gunshot wound. Andre was rushed to OHSU, but unfortunately later died due to his injuries. Several witnesses in the area described multiple males as having been involved in the shooting, authorities believe up to seven individuals. They were described as African-American, in their 20s, and all wearing dark clothing. They may have also been driving a black sedan as it was seen leaving the area quickly. Andre’s death is believed to have been a gang shooting due to the number of suspects. If anyone has information that could lead to an arrest in this case, Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,500 reward. Tips can be sent directly to the Cold Case Homicide Unit at 503-823-0400 or they can be submitted anonymously online at www.p3tips.com

Police were called around 6 pm on April 8th of this year. Someone near 8004 South 5th Street in Ridgefield, Washington came across a body lying near a barn. It was determined the body was that of 32-year-old mother of three Joanna Speaks. Her cause of death was homicidal violence- as she sustained head and neck injuries. Further investigation showed signs the body had been moved to the barn- it hadn’t been where the murder took place. Joanna’s family is certain she would have fought back, perhaps leaving scratches or injuries on her attacker. They are also confused as to how she ended up in Ridgefield, as she wouldn’t have a reason to have been there. Police are asking for tips regarding people, vehicles or suspicious activities in the area from early April. If you have any information about what happened to Joanna Speaks this past April you are asked to call the Clark County Sheriff’s Tip line at 564-397-2847 and CrimeStoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest.

In August of 1978, hunters in the woods near Elgin, Oregon stumbled across a skeleton in a partially exposed grave. The remains were uncovered and examined and investigators determined that they belonged to a female who was likely between the ages of 17 to 25 years old. She had sandy brown hair, was between 5’1 and 5’3 and likely weighed between 115 and 125 lbs. The woman had also been pregnant at the time of her death. Jane Doe was wearing a white halter top, red pants, and ankle-high lace up shoes. She also had some other type of white clothing or cloth that had small red hearts on it with zippers. Unfortunately, Jane Doe and her baby were cremated in the 90s and it’s uncertain if any DNA remains available. Most of the evidence was destroyed when the case was closed in 1990. Crime Stoppers of Oregon is offering a $2,500 reward for information that can help solve who Jane Doe is. Tips can be submitted to the Oregon State Police at 800-442-0776 with the reference #SP78-752103 or they can be submitted anonymously at http:/www.crimestoppersoforegon.com/