12/23/10: Oregon Bank Bombers Receive Death Sentence - NWRCFL Supported Investigation

A jury handed the death sentence to convicted bank robbers Joshua Turnidge and his father, Bruce. The pair set a bomb in a West Coach Bank in Woodburn Oregon which killed one officer, along with Oregon State Police Senior Trooper William Hakim, a member of the Oregon State Police, and a participating agency in the Northwest RCFL. Woodburn police captain Tom Tennant was seriously injured, and lost a leg in the bombing. Prosecutors argued that the Turnidges were desperate for money, and had fantasies of building bombs, robbing banks and starting an anti-government militia. It has also been reported that both men feared President Barack Obama would take away their rights to own guns, further fueling their hatred of the government.

The officers responded to a call for help from a bank employee on December 12, 2008. The bomb detonated, resulting in either death or injuries to the first responders. The Turnidges were arrested shortly thereafter, and the NWRCFL provided digital forensics support to investigators.

The men were found guilty on all 18 counts against them, which included aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder and assault charges. According to press reports, the death sentence will be automatically appealed to the Oregon Supreme Court, starting a judicial review that could last decades. Since 1962, only two condemned inmates have been executed in Oregon - both of whom gave up their appeals. In Oregon, there are 34 men currently on death row.

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