Update 2:25 p.m.: Murder suspect refuses to go to court; DA details cause of death
By Tom Peterson
Jacob David Wilson, 32, of The Dalles refused to go to the video courtroom from his jail cell on Tuesday afternoon, April 6, where he was being held on a charge of murder in connection with the killing of Amber Tracy in east The Dalles on Wednesday, April 5.
In his absence, Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis was asked by Circuit Court Judge John Nelson to present probable cause for holding Wilson at NORCOR until he could be arraigned again on Friday, April 7.
Reading from search warrants, Ellis gave a detail of what occurred at the residence of 717 E. 18th Street where police found Tracy.
Police were called out to the home on a disturbance call, he said
“When officers arrived, the victim in question here Amber Tracy had been stabbed multiple times,” Ellis said.
Wilson’s mother, Tamera Viers, was also at the scene and police took reports that Viers was struck by Wilson in the back of the head with a coffee can containing grounds and fell to the floor.
When Tracy attempted to intervene, Wilson pulled a “knife from a knife block and stabbed Tracy multiple times,” Ellis told Circuit Court Judge John Olson.
Tracy was taken to Mid-Columbia Medical Center where she was declared deceased.
Given the serious nature of the charges against Wilson, Defense Attorney Jerrett Glass asked to have the case appointed immediately.
Judge Olson assigned the case to attorney Jack Morris of Morris Sullivan, PC.
Glass said he had worked on cases with Wilson and noted he had severe mental health problems, noting mental health assessments would be needed immediately.
Olson ordered Wilson held on $100,000 bail and ordered him to have no contact with his mother as well as no contact with the house on 18th Street.
Earlier in the day
Ellis submitted an information or charging document against Wilson this morning, April 6, and Wilson is due to be arraigned today 1:15 p.m. via video hearings at the Wasco County Courthouse.
Wilson, who recently completed an 8-month sentence at NORCOR jail here in The Dalles knew Tracy, Ellis said.
“It was not a crime of passion, and this has no connection with the Amanda Harmon case,” Ellis said this morning. He would not, however, comment on the motivation of Wilson’s alleged crime.
In addition, Ellis said he could not share any additional information on Amanda Harman, age 35, who was identified as the victim in a suspected homicide on Friday, March 17.
Ellis said they were still awaiting lab results from Oregon State Police in regard to the Harmon Case.
File photo - Cole Goodwin
More on Murder Charge
In the charging document, Wilson is accused of murder, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon, fourth-degree assault and menacing.
The document states that a knife was used in causing the death of Tracy.
From The Dalles Police Department:
April 5, 2023, at about 11:44 PM - The Dalles Police Department responded to a 911 call in The Dalles, Oregon.
A victim was transported to Mid-Columbia Medical Center where the victim was pronounced deceased.
A suspect has been arrested for murder in the first degree and unlawful use of a weapon. That suspect was lodged at NORCOR.
There are no other suspects wanted in connection with this case.
This is an active investigation therefore the location of the homicide and the suspect’s name are being withheld at this time. The Dalles Police Department will provide more information when it is appropriate.
Columbia Gorge Major Crimes team, which consists of The Dalles Police Department, Hood River Police Department, Wasco County Sheriff’s Office, Hood River County Sheriff’s Office, Sherman County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon State Police, was activated. Questions regarding criminal charges should be directed to District Attorney Matt Ellis at the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office.
This information was posted on the NORCOR website this morning. Click to enlarge.
