Third suspect in Hood River Killing nabbed in The Dalles
A vigil for Stephen M. Hayes, above, was held across from Solstice Pizza on The Hood River Waterfront from 7:30-8:30 p.m. tonight, April 14, “to show his girlfriend, family, friends, customers, and co-workers how much he is loved and missed,” according to a Solstice Facebook post. Hayes was killed on Friday, April 11 when police say he attempted to stop thieves from stealing from his vehicle and they hit him with a vehicle as they fled the scene. Photo above from Solstice Facebook Page.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore, April 15, 2025 — Authorities arrested a man from The Dalles suspected of driving the pickup that hit and killed Stephen M. Hayes of Hood River on Friday, April 11, according to a press release from the Hood River Police Department.
The Columbia Gorge Major Crimes Team were scouring The Dalles on Tuesday, April 15, looking for Jonathan Bradley Matthews, 31, a houseless man suspected of driving a the stolen Ford F-15- pickup that killed Hayes.
Photo of Jonathan Bradley Matthews, 31, The Dalles as posted on the Hood River County Sheriff’s Facebook Page
The Dalles Police Sgt. Austin Ell found Matthews in a camp behind Sherwin Williams in The Dalles, and Matthews fled on a bike towards Safeway where patrol caught him,” said The Dalles Police Chief Tom Worthy. “No force was used.”
Hood River District Attorney Matthew Ellis listed Matthews as a person of interest and the suspect who was driving the stolen pickup that hit Hayes in a DA’s information filed in Hood River County Circuit Court.
Matthews was allegedly with William Edward Hardy Jr, 36, with general delivery in The Dalles, and Elizabeth June Bowman, 41, of 1823 Cascade Ave., #16, when they were attempting to steal items from Hayes vehicle near the intersection of June and Fifth streets in Hood River around 3:45 p.m. on Friday, April 11, according to Hood River Police.
Upon further investigation on Friday, April 11, officers found Hayes confronted burglars who were stealing property from his vehicle, and was mortally injured while the suspect vehicle attempted to flee the scene, according to the Hood River Police statement.
Hood River Police Chief Neal Holste says 38-year-old Hayes, who worked at Solstice Pizza, was found laying in the roadway in the area of 5th and June streets.
Efforts to revive Hayes failed after emergency responders attempted life saving procedures. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Suspects Hardy and Bowman were arrested by police on Saturday, April 12 and were arraigned in Hood River County Circuit Court on April 14. Hardy is being held on bail at NORCOR jail on $1 million bail. Bowman is being held at the jail on $100,000.
An all out effort was made by police the last several days to find the third suspect, Matthews. He was arrested today, April 15 at 12:09 p.m, in The Dalles, according to a Hood River Police press release.
Hardy and Bowman were both charged with stealing Hayes’ Trek mountain bike and then fleeing as passengers in a white F-150 Ford pickup stolen from Jacobs Solutions, which manages the waste water treatment plant in the Port of Hood River.
They are believed to be accomplices to murder for the hit and run death of Hayes. They are believed to be passengers in the pickup that hit Hayes.
Hardy and Bowman are both charged with murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, first degree theft and theft of a pickup, according to a Hood River District Attorney Information.
Matthews, who is the suspected driver in the hit and run killing, is being held on the same charges and is currently lodged at NORCOR, according to the jail’s inmate roster.
The Columbia Gorge Major Crimes Team with detectives from the The Dalles Police, Wasco County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police are assisting the The Hood River Police in the ongoing investigation. The Hood River Police Department thanked the Team for their assistance in the press release.
