patch

Yesterday, 52 year old Michael John Wolfe was taken into custody by investigators from the Salem Police Department in connection with the disappearance of Karissa and William Fretwell.  He was booked into the Yamhill County Jail on two counts of Aggravated Murder and two counts of Kidnapping in the First Degree.  He is being held without bail.

At this time, searchers are continuing to look for Karissa and William in the rural Hopewell area.  Due to the venue of the search and the criminal prosecution taking place in Yamhill County, media is asked to direct enquiries to the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office from this point forward. 

The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office and Salem Police Department have no plans to release any additional information on this case unless something of significance develops in the search for Karissa and William.  The next planned media release will take place after Michael Wolfe’s arraignment, which is currently scheduled for this coming Tuesday.

Since learning of their disappearance, the Salem Police Department has continued to work on locating Karissa Fretwell and her son William Fretwell.  Information gathered during the investigation has led investigators to a property in rural Yamhill County.  Law enforcement officers are searching this property in hopes of locating Karissa and William, or discovering evidence which may lead to their location.

The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office is assisting the Salem Police Department, along with members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oregon State Police, Yamhill County Search and Rescue and other Yamhill County law enforcement entities.  The search is only being conducted by law enforcement and trained volunteers and no additional searchers are needed.

Officials continue to ask for the public's help in locating Karissa and William.  Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts is asked to contact the Salem Police Tips Hotline at 503-588-8477.

Karissa and William have been missing since May 13th when Karissa did not report for work.  Karissa has sole custody of William and the two reside in West Salem.

sundrud

On May 20, at about 5:00 a.m. Yamhill County deputies were dispatched to a menacing that was occurring at 747 NW Evans Street in the City of Sheridan.  Witnesses at the house advised the son of the resident was there brandishing a knife and threatening occupants, including his handicapped father.  That man was identified as 47 year old Sheridan resident, Kenneth Lee Sundrud.

Deputies responded to the location, and were accompanied by officers from the McMinnville Police Department and Grand Ronde Tribal Police Department.  Sundrud refused to comply with orders to drop his knife and was struck with a 40mm less than lethal projectile while law enforcement was evacuating residents.  He continued to present threatening behavior and refused to comply with lawful commands.

Supervisors on scene requested the assistance of the Oregon State Police SWAT unit who responded while Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office investigators prepared a search warrant affidavit.

Oregon State Police SWAT attempted to get Sundrud to voluntarily surrender but he refused to exit the house.  At about 12:15 p.m., Oregon State Police Swat breached the door to the residence.  Sundrud then cooperated and was taken into custody without incident.

The search warrant service is still occurring and the case is still under investigation.  Sundrud will be transported to the hospital for clearance and charges are expected to be filed.