Leonardo Gonzalez was indicted for the murder of Christopher Marcus Lampkin.
(MCMINNVILLE, Ore.) - The remains of a Salem man named Christopher Lampkin who has been missing since April 2006, may have been discovered on a farm on SW Oldsfield Road in McMinnville this week.
Information released today by Prosecutor Courtland Geyer confirms that a warrant, served by Salem Police, was related to the ongoing investigation into the murder of Christopher Marcus Lampkin, though he says a positive identification has not been made at this point.
The residents of the property told reporters that they were surprised by the arrival of police officers who searched the property.
Geyer says an autopsy was conducted today at the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office, and that the results of the autopsy determined that the human remains were those of a male who died of homicidal violence.
Family members told KPTV News that they believe the body is that of Christopher Lampkin may have been found in a barrel on the McMinnville farm on Monday, a day earlier than police and the Marion DA indicated.
Christopher Lampkin was first reported missing by his parents in June 2006, and police said information at that time indicated foul play may have been involved.
Police issued an alert on June 21st 2006, seeking information on the location of the 24-year old. His parents say past involvement with meth was probably behind his disappearance.
Christopher was last seen at approximately 3:00 PM that day in April 2006 on Ruge St. in West Salem, in a dark green four door sedan.
Christopher was considered missing under suspicious circumstances and police indicated early on that information surfaced indicating that foul play was involved. His family described his extended disappearance as highly unusual and they feared the worst.
During the course of the investigation, Salem Police Lt. Jim Anglemier says information was revealed led them to believe Lampkin had been killed in Salem by 25-year old Leonardo Garcia Gonzalez of Salem.
Leonardo Gonzalez was indicted for the murder of Christopher Marcus Lampkin.
That trial is set to begin in Marion County Circuit Court on November 5th, 2007 at 8:30 AM.
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Police Search in McMinnville May Have Led to Discovery of Christopher Lampkin's BodySalem-News.com