An Oregon City man has been sentenced to life in prison for the killing of his girlfriend and the calculated disposal of her body on remote forest land, bringing a measure of legal finality to a case that drew attention for its brutality and the methodical steps taken after the crime. William Glen Blake, 56, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of 38-year-old Jennifer Ruth Stuart, whose remains were discovered weeks after her killing by hunters in the Mount Hood National Forest.
Prosecutors outlined a sequence of events that portrayed not a crime of sudden impulse alone, but one followed by deliberate actions intended to conceal the killing. The sentence, imposed by a Clackamas County judge, requires Blake to spend the rest of his life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 25 years, under Oregon law. The case underscores the deadly consequences of domestic violence, the role of forensic and investigative work in uncovering crimes committed in isolation, and the lasting impact such acts leave on victims’ families.
The Killing of Jennifer Ruth Stuart and the Events Leading Up to Her Death
According to the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office, Jennifer Ruth Stuart was shot and killed on Aug. 14 at the Oregon City home she shared with William Glen Blake. Investigators later determined that she died from a gunshot wound, with an entry wound found on the lower left side of her body during an autopsy. While the precise circumstances immediately preceding the shooting were not fully detailed in court records made public, prosecutors emphasized that Blake and Stuart were in a domestic relationship marked by violence.
One of Blake’s neighbors told police that he regularly assaulted Stuart, a statement that would later contribute to investigators identifying Blake early on as the primary suspect in her death. After the shooting, authorities said Blake did not contact emergency services or seek medical help for Stuart. Instead, he began taking steps that prosecutors characterized as efforts to hide the crime. Surveillance footage later obtained by investigators showed Blake traveling to a Home Depot shortly after the killing.
There, he purchased a large plastic tote bin, garbage bags, and gloves. These purchases, prosecutors argued, demonstrated premeditation in the aftermath of the killing, as Blake prepared materials that would later be linked directly to the disposal of Stuart’s body. In the days that followed, Blake transported Stuart’s body away from his home. Prosecutors said he placed her remains in the tote bin and drove to U.S. Forest Service land off Hillockburn Road, a remote area within the Mount Hood National Forest.
Read : 15-Year-Old Girl Accidentally Shoots and Kills Friend Katen Atwell in Lowe’s Parking Lot
At some point, Blake removed Stuart’s body from the tote and left it in the woods. Investigators later determined that Blake returned the tote to his property, fearing that it could tie him to the body if discovered at the dump site. This detail would become significant later in the investigation when law enforcement executed additional searches of Blake’s residence.
Read : Uganda: Exploring the Pearl of Africa
The killing itself, combined with the steps taken afterward, formed the foundation of the second-degree murder charge. Under Oregon law, second-degree murder involves intentionally causing the death of another person, without the additional elements required for aggravated murder. Blake ultimately admitted to detectives that he shot Stuart and dumped her body in the woods, a confession that aligned with physical evidence gathered by law enforcement.
Discovery of the Body and the Investigation That Followed
Jennifer Stuart’s body was not immediately discovered after her death. It was not until early September that the case came to light in a dramatic and unsettling way. On Sept. 1, a couple hunting on U.S. Forest Service land noticed turkey vultures circling over an object in a wooded area off Hillockburn Road. Curious and concerned, they approached and observed what appeared to be human remains. The hunters contacted authorities, prompting a response from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies and investigators secured the area and began a forensic examination. Due to the condition of the remains, immediate visual identification was not possible. Investigators instead relied on fingerprint analysis to confirm the identity of the deceased as Jennifer Ruth Stuart. An autopsy conducted by the medical examiner determined that Stuart had died from a gunshot wound, confirming that her death was a homicide.
As the investigation unfolded, law enforcement quickly focused on Blake. Neighbors’ statements about prior domestic violence, combined with the fact that Stuart had last been seen with him, placed him at the center of the inquiry. Surveillance video became a key piece of evidence. Footage showed Blake purchasing the tote bin, garbage bags, and gloves from Home Depot shortly after Stuart’s death. Additional surveillance evidence placed Blake in an area near where Stuart’s body was later found, further strengthening the case against him.
Investigators also executed searches of Blake’s property. During an initial search, certain items of interest were collected, but it was during a second search that police discovered the large plastic tote Blake had purchased. Prosecutors said Blake had initially used the tote to transport Stuart’s body but later retrieved it, believing it might link him directly to the disposal site. The recovery of the tote, combined with Blake’s own statements to detectives, helped solidify the timeline and sequence of events prosecutors presented in court.
Throughout the investigation, multiple agencies worked together, including the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon City police. The District Attorney’s Office later credited these agencies for their coordination and thorough investigative efforts. By the time Blake was arrested in October, prosecutors said they had amassed substantial evidence tying him to both the killing and the disposal of Stuart’s body.
Court Proceedings, Sentencing, and the Impact on the Victim’s Family
William Glen Blake ultimately chose to resolve the case through a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, and in exchange, other charges were dismissed. The plea spared the victim’s family a lengthy trial but did not lessen the severity of the sentence Blake faced. On Wednesday, a Clackamas County judge sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years, the maximum sentence available for the conviction under state law.
The sentencing hearing included emotional testimony from Jennifer Stuart’s family, most notably her mother, Elizabeth Stuart. Delivering a victim impact statement, Elizabeth Stuart spoke about the profound loss of her daughter and the cruelty of the way her life ended. She described Blake in stark terms, calling him “a rabid, savage beast,” and spoke about the horror of knowing her daughter was shot, placed into a plastic container, and discarded in the woods. Her words underscored the enduring trauma faced by families of homicide victims, long after court proceedings conclude.
Prosecutors emphasized that the sentence reflected not only the act of killing but also the actions Blake took afterward. Deputy District Attorney Jeremy Morrow, along with Senior Deputy District Attorneys Matt Semritc and Bryan Censoni, handled the prosecution. In statements released after the sentencing, the District Attorney’s Office reiterated its commitment to holding offenders accountable and acknowledged the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies involved in the case.
Jennifer Stuart’s death also brought renewed attention to the issue of domestic violence and its potential to escalate into lethal outcomes. Prosecutors noted the neighbor’s statement that Blake regularly assaulted Stuart, a detail that highlighted warning signs often present in abusive relationships. While the criminal justice process resulted in a life sentence for Blake, advocates frequently point out that early intervention and reporting of domestic violence can be critical in preventing such tragedies.
The case concluded with Blake beginning his life sentence in the Oregon prison system, while Stuart’s family and loved ones were left to navigate life without her. The discovery of her body in a remote forest, the evidence pieced together through surveillance and forensic work, and the courtroom testimony all combined to tell a story of violence, concealment, and accountability. As the legal chapter closed, the case remained a stark reminder of the human cost behind criminal proceedings and the lasting impact of violent crime on families and communities.
I am constantly browsing online for posts that can assist me. Thanks!