La Pine man details killing in TD during 'suicide by cop' attempt

Samantha “Sammie” Bergren, 33, above, was found deceased at the Super 8 Motel in The Dalles under suspicious circumstances on Sept. 3. Zachary Jean Krohnke, 32 of La Pine was later arrested that same day in Bend after a crisis negotiation and apparent admissions of murder.

By Cole Goodwin and Tom Peterson

The Dalles, Ore. Sept. 7, 2023 – A 32-year-old La Pine man suspected in the recent death of Samantha "Sammie" Bergren who was found deceased at the Super 8 Motel in The Dalles on Sept. 3rd admitted to the murder, according to Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputies.  

Case reports detailing Zachary Jean Krohnke’s arrest show that Kronhke made the admissions while holding himself at knifepoint, and repeatedly self-injuring himself on the neck in a suicide-by-cop attempt on September 3.
An Arrest-Filled Week for Krohnke

Records show that only six days prior to Bergren’s death in The Dalles, Krohnke had been arrested on Aug. 28th on suspicion of first-degree rape, first-degree strangulation, coercion menacing and unlawful use of a weapon in Bend.

Krohnke’s bail was then set at $20,000 in Deschutes County Circuit Court. He was given a no-contact order with the Royal Gateway Motel or the alleged female victim, and ordered not to possess or control any weapons, firearms, or ammunition.

Krohnke was arrested at the Royal Gateway Motel in Bend Oregon on suspicion of rape, strangulation, coercion, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing on Aug. 28, 2023 - six days before his involvement in a suspcious death at the Super 8 Motel in The Dalles.

Security was paid, and Krohnke was released on Sept. 1, 2023.

On Sept. 3, Samantha Bergren’s body was discovered by hotel staff at the Super 8 Motel in the Dalles under suspicious circumstances at 11:55 a.m. 

Krohnke had rented the room Bergren was found in. 

At around 3 p.m. the same day, Sept. 3, Social Worker Brooke Collins at the Deschutes County Stabilization Center, 63311 Jamison St., Bend, OR, reported that Krohnke had informed staff that he was suicidal and wanted suicide by cop. 

Collins further reported that Krohnke had stated that he had murdered a female in The Dalles, OR, that he had knives on him, and he would not go back to prison. Therefore, the only option was suicide by cop, and he had repeatedly stated he “plans to die today.” 

Zachary Jean Krohnke, 32, of La Pine was taken into custody at the Stabilization Center in Bend, above, on Sept. 3 where deputies said he admitted to the murder of Samantha Bergren at the Super 8 Motel just hours earlier in The Dalles. Deputies said Krohnke was cutting his own neck with a knife when they arrived and was asking for “suicide by cop.” He eventually traded his knife for a cigarette during crisis negotiations.

Deschutes County Deputy Michael Mangin

Deschutes County Detective Kyle Kalmbach

Deschutes County Deputies responded to the scene with SWAT armor. Kronhke is described as a heavyset 331-pound white male with red hair and some facial hair.

Kronhke was sitting on the ground by the Stabilization center’s gate when deputies arrived.

“Krohnke was holding a small silver multi-tool with the knife part extended, and he was bleeding from his neck. I watched as Krohnke actively stabbed himself in the neck several times,” read a report by Deputy Michael Mangin.

Deputies then began negotiations with Krohnke requesting him to stand down and come into custody.

“During this time I heard Krohnke state he had killed a woman in a hotel room in The Dalles earlier that day. I also heard Krohnke state numerous times that he couldn’t go back to jail and wanted to die,” read Mangin’s report.

The report described Krohnke’s demeanor when he talked about the murder as “cold and flat.”

Reports from the other deputies stated that Krohnke said that he had killed Bergren around 3:00 a.m. that morning and that he identified her by the name “Sam.”

Krohnke eventually agreed to trade his knife for a cigarette during the crisis negotiation.

One of the assisting officers, Officer Kyle Kalmbach, stated he had coached Krohnke during middle school football 19 years prior.

Krohnke was arrested on disorderly conduct and transported by medics to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend.

During a police evaluation, Krohnke said that “every once and a while I hear voices,” and added, “Basically the person I killed.” When asked to clarify if he heard voices due to not taking medication, Krohnke denied that explanation saying, “No I think it is because of what happened.” And “I can hear her voice in my head.”
Physical evidence booked at the Sheriff’s office included Krohnke’s baseball cap, sunglasses, socks, white tennis shoes with dried blood, the deputies’s camera footage, and audio recordings.

Two days later on Sept. 5th, Krohnke was formally indicted by the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office in regard to the Gateway Motel case in Bend. He was charged with coercion, unlawful use of a weapon, menacing, and fourth-degree assault. The indictment charged Krohnke with unlawfully injuring and holding a woman at knifepoint at the Royal Gateway Motel in Bend on Aug. 28th. But charges of rape and strangulation were not in the indictment.

Krohnke’s release which was granted on Sept. 1, was also revoked by Circuit Court Judge Alison Emerson.
In Wasco County, it is unclear what additional charges Krohnke may face in regard to the suspicious death of Samantha Bergren.

An Unimaginable Loss
The family of the deceased told CCCNews that this was an incredibly difficult time and that they were grieving the loss of their loved one and hoped justice would prevail.

The family described Sammie as “a good person with a heart of gold” who loved animals, especially dogs and horses and was involved in helping to rescue animals in need.  

“She was the light in every room,” they said. They also shared that she had been very active in sports and cheerleading throughout high school. 

As the family and the community await further details, any forthcoming information regarding the case will be released by the District Attorney’s Office. 

In the meantime, The Dalles Police and the Wasco County District Attorney's Office have expressed their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, extending their heartfelt sympathy during this trying time.

Staff at the Super 8 Motel in The Dalles were shaken by the incident. While they were not able to discuss the details of the case they said they were sending their hearts and prayers to the family of the deceased.  “I have never experienced something like this since I’ve worked here,” said Lindsay Johnson, senior desk clerk. “I've been here 10 years total. This is the first time I’ve ever had anything like this. I feel for the family. You never heal after losing a loved one. I hope they get closure. All of us at Super 8 are sending thoughts and love to the family.”