Oregon Man, Nephew Charged with Double-Homicide

Authorities in Bend, Ore., believe a 34-year-old man and his fiance were killed more than a year ago in a murder-for-hire scheme concocted by his brother. During a press conference last week, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel alleged Kenneth Atkinson, 54, and his 31-year-old nephew, Nathan Shane Detroit, murdered Ray Atkinson, Jr., and Natasha

Authorities in Bend, Ore., believe a 34-year-old man and his fiancée were killed more than a year ago in a murder-for-hire scheme concocted by his brother.

During a press conference last week, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel alleged Kenneth Atkinson, 54, and his 31-year-old nephew, Nathan Shane Detroit, murdered Ray Atkinson, Jr., and Natasha Newby, 29, on Aug. 15, 2020.

The couple died from blunt force trauma injuries, according to Hummel, and their bodies were found by concerned friends in the basement of a Bend home previously owned by Ray Atkinson, Sr., who died in 2019.

Citing the criminal affidavits, the Bend Bulletin reports that Ray Atkinson, Sr., had left behind a $400,000 estate, but no will.

For the next year, Ray and Kenneth were embroiled in a legal dispute over their father's estate, according to the indictment.

Ken Atkinson and Nathan Detroit. Deschutes County Jail

Investigators had long suspected that Kenneth was involved in the double homicide, Hummel said, but only recently developed enough evidence for the filing of charges.

The district attorney did not discuss what specific evidence led to the Oct. 1 arrests.

Hummel alleges that Kenneth convinced Detroit to help him carry out the killings, promising him an unspecified amount of money for his assistance.

"I am hopeful that this arrest will bring a small measure of closure and peace to the family and friends of Ray and Natasha," reads a statement from Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The two suspects are being held without bail — each on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder.

Neither has entered pleas to the charges, and their attorneys could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

ncG1vNJzZmiolaS9rbGNnKamZ5Ontq6xjqipnp%2Bfo3qurc1mmKWklZyypbjYZp%2BiqpWZeq%2Bxz6GcsGWkpHqstculZJ%2BZnZ65unnMnqSbnaKoeqK5yJ1knaGjpcK1sYyorZ6qXaGutbGMn5itoJWnwG6x0q2YrZ1f

 Share!