Safety video helps lead Oregon detectives to a masked killer who tried to cover the crime

Detectives Stephanie Winter and Devin Rigo of the Hillsboro, Oregon, Police Division had by no means encountered against the law scene just like the one they encountered in January 2023. 

Natalie Morales: How would you two characterize this case once you first bought it? What did you suppose? 

Det. Stephanie Winter: , I simply thought that it is a wild case.

Det. Stephanie Winter: It was within the night … after 9.

Det. Devin Rigo: So all of us bought a web page on our division cell telephones saying that there was … dying at Intel.

Intel, the large tech firm recognized for its revolutionary pc chips, had a number of massive manufacturing amenities in Hillsboro, exterior of Portland. 

Det. Stephanie Winter: It did not make sense. … He regarded like he had handed peacefully. … there was minimal blood throughout the automobile. 

POLICE FIND A DEAD BODY INSIDE AN OREGON PARKING GARAGE

The deceased was Kenneth “Kenny” Fandrich, age 56, a contract pipe fitter on the plant. His spouse, Tanya, had reported him lacking when he was late getting residence. Like many {couples}, they shared their places on their telephones. Tanya tracked him to the Intel parking zone. 

TANYA FANDRICH (police bodycam video): What’s unsuitable? 

OFFICER: We — we’re unsure proper now.

She was already there on the storage when police arrived with physique cameras rolling.

OFFICER (police bodycam video): So, we’ll have the hearth — we’re gonna have the medics — 

TANYA FANDRICH: The place is he? …

OFFICER: He is right here within the storage someplace … 

A short while later, she realized that her husband was lifeless.

The Hillsboro Police Cellular Command Heart was stationed on the scene, and that was the place detectives first talked to Tanya. 

Natalie Morales (Contained in the Cellular Command Heart): That night time, you — you introduced Tanya Fandrich, proper in right here … What did she look like to you?

Det. Dayanna Mesch: She was very monotone … in the best way she was talking.

Detective Dayanna Mesch was first to interview Tanya Fandrich.

Det. Dayana Mesh: She appeared very out of her physique. Like she did not react as —

Natalie Morales: Mm-hmm.

Det. Dayanna Mesch: — as a lot as you’d suppose any individual would … however I needed to sort of pull a whole lot of the solutions out of her.

Mesch realized extra about why Tanya had been on the scene.

Det. Dayanna Mesch: She advised me that they’d some points prior to now with their marriage … now … they might verify in on one another extra usually. …

Natalie Morales: Do alarm bells form of go off right here?

Det. Dayanna Mesch: Yeah. There was some suspicion … we at all times take a look at the folks closest to the deceased.

However Mesch knew higher than to attract conclusions straight away.

Det. Dayanna Mesch: All people grieves in another way … it simply was totally different than different victims I’ve seen … 

There was so much to course of for Tanya and investigators. The scene didn’t seem violent.

Det. Stephanie Winter: His lunch bag … his lunch, his keys, his telephone, all set neatly subsequent to him within the passenger seat.

Det. Stephanie Winter: My first thought was, how are we going to determine this out? 

Their first clues would come from these surveillance cameras. 

Det. Devin Rigo (watching safety video): So he’ll pop up proper right here, uh, subsequent to that column that we’re seeing proper right here within the — within the nook. Simply kinda waits for a digicam after which simply pops up.

The detectives found a person sporting a tough hat and red-mirror tinted glasses had really spray painted these cameras round 7 a.m. earlier that very same day — his actions undetected by Intel safety. 

Det. Devin Rigo: I wanna say about six or seven cameras.

However there have been additionally cameras that had not been sprayed. And investigators locked in on photographs of a automobile they believed belonged to the suspect.

Det. Devin Rigo: We’re taking a look at early afternoon now, after which we see this maroon van come within the parking storage. And no entrance plate on the automobile.

It was an older, maroon-colored Dodge van. They tracked the van’s motion’s digicam by digicam earlier than it disappeared. Beneath a layer of blue spray paint, moments later they may simply make out the van pulling right into a parking spot. 

Det. Devin Rigo (watching safety video): So proper right here, you possibly can see that the van is that this shadow proper in right here. 

Natalie Morales: OK, proper. 

Det. Devin Rigo: After which, this automobile proper right here is definitely Kenneth Fandrich’s black Honda Civic.

It was 3:21 p.m., simply after Kenny had completed his shift.

He’s seen on video strolling again by the storage. After which… very exhausting to see… behind the blue spray paint.

Det. Devin Rigo (watching surveillance video): You may see somewhat little bit of motion proper right here — 

Natalie Morales: Mm-hmm. 

Det. Devin Rigo: — within the — within the factor. And that’s Kenneth strolling again to his automobile. 

Det. Devin Rigo: You simply sort of have to observe the — sort of shadows primarily what is going on on —  

Natalie Morales: Mm-hmm. 

Det. Devin Rigo: — between the 2 automobiles.

Det. Devin Rigo: — you begin seeing the headlights flash a pair occasions like, you already know … any individual be unlocking their automobile.

Detectives say the headlights on Kenny’s Honda flashed as he unlocked his automobile together with his key fob. That is once they consider the masked man grabbed Fandrich, nonetheless holding onto his keys. 

Det. Devin Rigo  (watching safety video):  You see a whole lot of motion taking place impulsively. 

Natalie Morales: You then see a whole lot of lights. 

Det. Devin Rigo: Loads of lights.

Detectives say that is Kenny desperately pushing his key fob because the masked man dragged him into that maroon van.

Natalie Morales: What do you suppose that is what is going on on in there throughout that once you see these lights flashing? 

Det. Devin Rigo: We predict … that is when the individual within the van is murdering Kenneth.

Detectives say Kenny was killed inside that maroon Dodge van earlier than the killer staged Kenny’s physique in his black Honda.

That meant the van itself could be a crucial piece of proof – the precise homicide scene.

Det. Devin Rigo: There may have been … clothes … and who is aware of … what … else in that minivan. 

However discovering the van could be a problem. They could not see the license plates or the motive force. 

The outcomes of the post-mortem would reveal – Kenny Fandrich had died from “blunt and compressive trauma of the neck.”

His neck had been damaged. However who would need to kill Kenny Fandrich?

Det. Devin Rigo: It was actually … initially like this large whodunit for us, an enormous thriller.

A thriller they hoped may be solved when Intel safety employees advised investigators about one other incident — further video photographs from the storage recorded a month earlier.

Det. Devin Rigo: … we realized that, hey, FYI, we — a couple of month prior, we reported our cameras being spray painted as properly.

That incident was investigated — a legal  mischief name — however they by no means found out who it was. 

Det. Devin Rigo:  … it was a person wearing a — 

Det. Stephanie Winter: A building — 

Det. Devin Rigo:  — building helmet, black glasses, a masks. And we’re like, properly, that is a clue. 

Investigators had been 100% sure it was the identical individual, sporting totally different glasses, they usually say these new photographs revealed an uncommon clue.

Det. Stephanie Winter: We had this — this distinctive brow crease that we may see on this photograph. 

Natalie Morales: That little little bit of brow that you simply see. 

Det. Stephanie Winter: Simply the little little bit of brow. That is — that is what we bought. 

Natalie Morales: That is a really odd clue proper there 

Det. Stephanie Winter: It’s … However for us it was an enormous — an enormous deal. 

And the detectives had one different “large deal” — one thing Tanya Fandrich advised them the night time her husband died. 

OFFICER (police bodycam video) Has he — has he been having any points recently? 

TANYA FANDRICH: No, however he has a stalker. 

A stalker — who had been harassing her husband. And she or he had proof: a video from their very own residence safety digicam.

Det. Devin Rigo: You really see the individual … kinda crawl and transfer round a bit beneath the — the trailer proper there.

WHO WAS STALKING KENNY FANDRICH?  

Within the early hours of the investigation into the homicide of Kenny Fandrich, his spouse Tanya advised detectives her husband had a stalker — seen on the couple’s residence safety cameras within the carport of their residence in Oregon Metropolis, Oregon. 

Devin Rigo: Here is …some form of like utility trailer proper right here. … And you will discover proper underneath the trailer — you really see the individual … kinda crawl and transfer round a bit beneath … the trailer proper there.

Tanya advised detectives the stalker was her outdated boss, Dr. Steven Milner. Milner was a well-to-do veterinarian, price tens of millions. She had labored with him in his clinic as a vet tech. 

Buddies Cheryl Choquette and Darlyn Robinson had been longtime purchasers of the vet.

Natalie Morales: What was he like — 

Darlyn Robinson: He was —

Natalie Morales: — as a vet? 

Darlyn Robinson: — he was fantastic. He was very compassionate, caring, sort.

Cheryl Choquette: He was an amazing vet.

Choquette even took half in a video Milner made for his clinic, which had aired on the native information.

Natalie Morales: The sort of vet that get — will get down on the degree of the canine? Like on the ground with them? 

Cheryl Choquette: Positively on the ground.

And each Choquette and Robinson knew Tanya — a minimum of by sight.

Darlyn Robinson: She was there for, I feel 19 years and … she was the one who would come out and get us to take us again to the room and sort of do the consumption on the animals.

Cheryl Choquette: Only a candy, good woman, very, you already know, sort of quiet … however tremendous pleasant and really caring.

Detectives quickly realized a couple of difficult relationship between Tanya and Milner. Tanya advised investigators she and Milner had as soon as had an affair — it started in early 2017. On the time, Milner was separated, and Tanya stated her relationship with Kenny hit a tough patch.

Natalie Morales: Did you discover any interactions between her and Dr. Milner?

Cheryl Choquette: Simply utterly skilled. … It was simply, you already know, he is available in, she goes out of the room.

Natalie Morales: He was the boss?

Cheryl Choquette: Mm-hmm. Yeah. 

However Robinson thought she seen one thing.

Darlyn Robinson: There got here a degree the place my mind simply sort of went, I ponder if there’s, you already know, one thing happening, trigger …. simply seems to be they might give one another. 

Milner and Tanya tried to maintain their affair quiet, say investigators. Milner even gave her a secret title: Kiki.

Mahalee Streblow: One of many nicknames … was Kiki Essex.

Prosecutor Mahalee Streblow labored on the case.

Mahalee Streblow: It is a kind of, that is like … you already know, the title of your first pet after which the road that … you grew up on. 

However the couple’s affair was uncovered after a couple of months in July 2017, once they attended a marriage collectively. Prosecutor John Gerhard.

John Gerhard: There have been staff from the veterinary clinic that had been there.

Mahalee Streblow: She was underneath the impression that Kenneth was out of city for work.

John Gerhard: Tanya indicated that they’d each been consuming and that they had been participating in additional bodily intimacy in entrance of the staff throughout that wedding ceremony.

Because the night time ended, Tanya went residence with Milner.

Mahalee Streblow: Lo and behold, Kenneth was not out of city for work.

When Tanya did not return residence that night time, Kenny went to Milner’s home.

Mahalee Streblow: And that is how they bought caught.

Det. Devin Rigo: Kenny did not confront or make an enormous scene on the home. He sort of left the home after which began calling, um … to strive to determine what is going on on. 

In accordance with Tanya, she ended the affair quickly after they had been caught.

Det. Devin Rigo: After that … the connection with Tanya and Steve Milner sort of stopped — 

And that is when Kenny Fandrich stated Dr. Milner began harassing him. 

Michael Fuller: When Kenny got here to me, he was terrified. 

Michael Fuller was Kenny’s lawyer. 

Michael Fuller: This stalking problem had principally consumed his life. 

Fuller says Milner began with harassing calls, then escalated from there.

Michael Fuller: Milner actually coming onto his property in the course of the night time … following him, to work, threatening him, these kind of issues. 

Tanya ultimately left Milner’s clinic. However Milner continued to trace Kenny. Detectives discovered loads of proof of precisely how he did it.

Det. Devin Rigo (taking a look at proof with Morales): Tanya really offered this to us. … and this is likely one of the precise monitoring units that Steven Milner had positioned on one in all their automobiles.

Natalie Morales:  — is that this the system there?

Stephanie Winter: So this — so that is the system.

Natalie Morales: Uh-huh.

Stephanie Winter: We consider this to be the battery pack. And what they’d completed and put it on this case with the magnets –

Natalie Morales: Mm-hmm.

Stephanie Winter: — after which put it up beneath their automobile.

In August 2019, roughly two years after Tanya stated she ended the affair, Kenny utilized for an order of safety towards Milner. However detectives would be taught the harassment continued – and the vet’s infatuation with Tanya deepened. 

Stephanie Winter: He needed Tanya, and he wasn’t going to cease.

THE VETERINARIAN’S OBSESSION

Inside days of Kenny Fandrich’s dying, investigators set their sights on a suspect: veterinarian Dr. Steven Milner. Detectives realized he was obsessive about Tanya.

There have been love notes.

John Gerhard (studying letter aloud): Certainly one of them was: “the one absolute rock, stable reality is that I like you. I’ve by no means liked anybody that method. … I’m consumed by your soul.”

He wrote letters like that for years even after Tanya had stated the affair was over.

Detectives additionally realized extra about Tanya’s relationship along with her husband Kenny.

Det. Stephanie Winter: It was a tumultuous relationship. … Alcohol got here into play between them. … they had been usually, you already know, as you possibly can say, cold and warm … They argued so much.

Kenny had been charged with home violence years earlier than however the expenses weren’t pursued, and the couple reconciled. Then, in August 2021 — years after Tanya says she ended the affair with Milner — the couple had one other struggle; this time she was arrested.

The following day, one thing shocking occurred.

Det. Devin Rigo: Any person posted her bail. She had $25,000 bail … when she leaves the jail, Steven Milner is within the parking zone ready for her.

Tanya advised investigators she ended up staying with the physician for a few days earlier than returning to Kenny. She insisted nothing romantic occurred. Milner was simply serving to her out as a buddy.

Det. Devin Rigo: To this present day … none of us can work out how Steven Milner really discovered she had been arrested that night time.

That case was later dismissed and the couple reunited once more. However Milner’s marketing campaign of harassment continued.

Natalie Morales: What do you suppose his finish purpose was … what did he suppose he may do — finish their marriage after which find yourself fortunately ever after —  

Det. Stephanie Winter: Precisely.

Natalie Morales:  — with Tanya?

Det. Devin Rigo: Yeah.

Det. Stephanie Winter: Precisely. … He needed Kenneth out of the image. So, he could possibly be that white knight to save lots of Tanya.

In March 2022, simply ten months earlier than Kenny’s homicide, Milner adopted Kenny from Oregon Metropolis all the best way to Hillsboro — a 45-minute drive.

Kenny noticed him and known as police. Milner was pulled over as physique cameras captured the interplay.

OFFICER EDWARDS (police bodycam video): Hello, Officer Edwards, Hillsboro police. … Are you aware why we’re stopping you at this time?

DR. STEVE MILNER: Yeah. I am making an attempt to come up with this man that — I am following him.

The responding officer realized from dispatch that there was historical past between the 2 males.

OFFICER (police bodycam video): What’s your position in the entire thing?

DR. STEVE MILNER: Uh, she has been a buddy of mine for 20 years. 

Milner advised police he believed Tanya was in peril as a result of she had allegedly advised him Kenny was abusive. 

DR. STEVE MILNER (police bodycam video):  I am the one one that provides a sh** and I am not allowed to offer a sh** …

OFFICER: So this is my recommendation to you, OK? And that is very, very robust recommendation. Go away them alone. He needs nothing to do with you. She needs nothing to do with you. … In the event you present up at their home, should you contact them, something like that, you are gonna go to jail.

After that visitors cease, Kenny filed for a brand new order for cover. The unique one had expired years earlier.

Michael Fuller: Kenny was completely in — in concern of his life.

And two weeks later, he was so wired, he advised police he crashed his automobile.

KENNETH FANDRICH (police bodycam video): … my spouse and I’ve been preventing at this time —

OFFICER: Sorry.

KENNETH FANDRICH:  — and um, I assumed she was at her boss’s home, the place I’ve caught her dishonest on me.

OFFICE: I am sorry.

KENNETH FANDRICH: And I used to be driving over there, and he is similar to proper down at street and, I misplaced management on my automobile. I simply –

Kenny’s lawyer says his shopper had each cause to be wired.

Michael Fuller: Kenny advised me that Milner … stated, “Hey, I am a veterinarian. I’ve completed surgical procedures and I’ve the instruments to cut you up into little items.” 

In August 2022, after Kenny discovered one other monitoring system underneath his automobile, Milner was criminally charged and was awaiting trial.

Michael Fuller: It was fairly clear to me that Milner was not in his proper thoughts. 

Only a month later, Kenny filed a civil swimsuit searching for a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} for invasion of privateness and infliction of emotional misery — allegedly introduced on by Milner’s stalking, harassment, and trespass.

5 months later Kenny Fandrich was lifeless.

Simply days after the homicide, detectives had been satisfied that Steven Milner was that man behind the masks, however they wanted extra proof.

Det. Devin Rigo: We have to get eyes on Steven Milner as a result of we all know there was some form of violent confrontation. We need to see if he had any accidents.

Not eager to tip him off – investigators requested him to come back in for a verify in concerning the stalking case.

Det. Devin Rigo: So, we organized a gathering for Steven to come back in to signal some paperwork. … Detective Winter was inside at a reception desk.

Natalie Morales: And your purpose sitting there on the receptionist desk — form of as an undercover, proper?

Det. Stephanie Winter: I needed to see if he had any damage to himself. … He walks in. He seems to be extraordinarily nervous.

One other individual within the workplace seen one thing. 

Det. Stephanie Winter: She says, “Hey, he has bought make-up on his face.” 

Make-up, investigators say, Milner used to cowl up a scratch on his nostril.

Natalie Morales: Bingo. You are pondering we bought our man?

Det. Stephanie Winter: I — I — yep. At that time, I assumed, that is him. That is our man that — that did this.

Moments later, after Milner walked out the door —

DEPUTY DAVIS (police bodycam video):  Hello sir, I am Deputy Davis, the Sheriff’s Workplace. We’re being recorded by my digicam. So, all the things goes to be audio and visually recorded. … Do you perceive that?

DR. STEVE MILNER: Sure.

DEPUTY DAVIS: OK, sounds good. … Proper now, you are being detained.

On Jan. 31, 2023, 4 days after Kenny Fandrich was discovered lifeless, Steven Milner was taken into custody. Inside days, Milner was charged with second-degree homicide and stalking. 

With Milner in custody, Rigo and Winter had been shortly in a position to join one essential clue from these surveillance digicam photographs: that uncommon crease within the masked man’s brow.

Det. Stephanie Winter: There’s that very distinguished brow crease that I do not — he could not disguise if he tried.

Natalie Morales: There is no such thing as a quantity of make-up hiding that crease.

Det. Stephanie Winter: No. 

Natalie Morales: Do you’re feeling at this level such as you’ve bought like a reasonably stable case?

Det. Devin Rigo: We had a whole lot of circumstantial items, like placing the puzzle collectively, however we’re simply on the tip of the iceberg of what we nonetheless want to search out out.

Extra puzzle items could be present in Milner’s home.

CONNECTING THE PUZZLE PIECES

Det. Stephanie Winter: It was surprising that any individual this profitable … a physician … now suspect in a homicide. 

With Dr. Steven Milner now in police custody, Hillsboro Detectives Stephanie Winter and Devin Rigo got down to discover proof that might show Milner was on the scene when Kenny Fandrich was murdered.

Det. Devin Rigo: So, as quickly as he’s arrested … We’re getting search warrants for his DNA to be taken … we’re getting search warrants for his home as properly.

And detectives weren’t fairly ready for what they discovered at his residence.

Det. Stephanie Winter: We discovered a cardboard cutout behind a mirror of Steven Milner’s face positioned on a really oiled, masculine man with a canine paw tattoo over his coronary heart.

Natalie Morales: Very odd memorabilia — to have in your bed room.

Det. Devin Rigo: Sure.

Det. Stephanie Winter: I’d say so. 

And there was extra.

Det. Devin Rigo: Within the nightstand, in Steven’s master suite, is a bunch of things that we sort of discuss with as a shrine to Tanya. There was a framed image of Tanya. There have been love notes … there have been girls’s underwear … similar to very like private keepsakes from, what — their relationship collectively.

Natalie Morales: That is extra than simply amassing a couple of love notes and playing cards. …

Det. Devin Rigo: Particularly from … somebody who hadn’t been in a relationship with you for a number of years presently interval.

To construct their case, investigators wanted to attach the maroon-colored minivan — seen within the Intel parking storage parked subsequent to Kenny’s automobile — to Milner. However so far as investigators may decide, Milner often drove the white Toyota SUV he’d been in when he was arrested. 

Det. Devin Rigo: initially, we did not know what proof this automobile may present us.

So, they ordered an FBI forensic evaluation of the SUV’s pc, hoping it’d present some clues about Milner’s actions earlier than and after Kenny’s homicide.

Det. Devin Rigo (displaying Milner’s SUV to Morales): So primarily … the pc that is within the automobile retains a whole lot of data.

Natalie Morales: Mm-hmm.

Det. Devin Rigo: And by chance a kind of issues is like GPS knowledge factors …

Natalie Morales: The place was that bit of knowledge? … is that a pc that is pulled out on high there?

Det. Stephanie Winter: Yeah. In order that’s a part of the entrance sprint … After which, it was simply … somewhat … motherboard kind factor that had a chip in it.

Inside weeks, they bought a name from their digital professional.

Det. Devin Rigo: She … stated, you guys want to take a look at the House Depot in Oregon Metropolis …  He is there so much the day of the homicide.

A House Depot simply quarter-hour down the street from Milner’s home.

Natalie Morales (within the House Depot parking zone with detectives): How central did this place turn out to be in direction of a piecing collectively the proof that you simply had?

Det. Devin Rigo: Like this was primarily like heart stage of the investigation.

The detectives requested House Depot safety personnel if there had been suspicious exercise within the lot lately. Amazingly, they stated sure: two automobiles — a maroon minivan and a blue sedan — had been flagged for parking there for lengthy intervals of time with solely short-term, paper license plates. 

Det. Devin Rigo: And we realized that there had been a whole lot of calls created prior to now couple months with a suspicious … blue automobile and … maroon minivan. 

For the second time in a matter of weeks, parking zone safety cameras and the photographs they recorded, would supply investigators with key clues. In a clip  from Jan. 27, 2023 – the day of Kenny’s homicide – detectives say you possibly can see Milner’s white SUV pull up and park. Inside minutes, the motive force – believed to be Steven Milner – will get into the maroon minivan. One other digicam then captured the minivan exiting the parking zone.

Natalie Morales: So, what was he doing with the automobiles?

Det. Devin Rigo: So primarily this was like his staging location. So, he would drive his private automobile right here after which both decide up the blue sedan or the maroon minivan after which drive that out to Hillsboro. …

Natalie Morales: What do you name them?

Det. Devin Rigo: Burner automobiles.

Natalie Morales: Burner automobiles.

Det. Devin Rigo: Yeah. … everyone sort of is extra accustomed to like a burner telephone … the place you have got a telephone that is not … traced to you however, you already know, you should utilize it for what you want, eliminate it. … Basically, he did the identical factor, however with a automobile.

Investigators believed Milner could have been utilizing these burner automobiles to secretly comply with Kenny to work — even after regulation enforcement had advised him to cease.

In addition they realized House Depot safety cameras had photographs of the motive force of these automobiles purchasing within the retailer a couple of month earlier than Kenny was murdered.

Det. Stephanie Winter: he parked proper in entrance of House Depot …

Det. Devin Rigo: He went in and … we noticed him come to the self-checkout space … and he had purchased a pair of like security glasses. …

Natalie Morales: Was … his face seen in that surveillance?

Det. Stephanie Winter: It was.

Det. Devin Rigo: Oh yeah …

 There was little question — it was Steven Milner. And people glasses he purchased? Detectives say you possibly can see them in his proper hand as he exited the shop. The receipt stated they’d a “pink mirror” tint. Winter had an thought.

Det. Stephanie Winter: We simply occurred to be sitting close to one of many aisles and I used to be like, I’ll go see the place they promote … the glasses … After which a pair packing containers down was … a yellow exhausting hat that regarded similar to the one … that he was sporting in all the Intel storage surveillance.

The detectives had been satisfied this was the place Milner had gotten his disguise to kill Kenny.

Natalie Morales: You will have all of this, however you had been lacking one large piece of proof. What was it?

Det. Devin Rigo: We had been, at this level, nonetheless lacking … the maroon minivan. …

Natalie Morales: Why is the minivan so essential?

Det. Devin Rigo: As a result of it is the minivan that we consider was actually our predominant crime scene. … we thought there was going to be forensic proof … in that minivan. So, we actually needed to get that minivan to assist actually put the icing on …  this case.

Rigo was laser centered on monitoring down that maroon minivan and he bought an extremely fortunate break. When these suspicious burner automobiles had been flagged, the VIN quantity was additionally recorded. Rigo searched it and discovered that van had been discovered deserted only a few days after the homicide.

Det. Devin Rigo: The freeway folks, had … towed it off the facet of the I-5 in north Portland.

Natalie Morales: It had been dumped then.

Det. Devin Rigo: It had been dumped there. … So, I known as the tow firm, “Hey, do you have got this automobile?” “No, sorry … We offered it to a scrap steel firm.”

Rigo knew the clock was ticking to retrieve what he believed was the crime scene and all the key proof it held.

Det. Devin Rigo: So, me and one other detective drive as fast as we are able to to north Portland.

However they had been too late. When he requested concerning the minivan, the scrapyard confirmed Rigo a video of the maroon minivan police consider Milner drove to the Intel storage to kill Kenny simply moments earlier than it was pulverized by the steel jaws of the scrapyard claw.

Det. Devin Rigo: I used to be in a position to watch one in all my key items of proof be crushed and brought away.

Natalie Morales: Earlier than your very eyes.

Det. Devin Rigo: Earlier than my very eyes — 

Natalie Morales: Oh my gosh.

Det. Devin Rigo: — precisely per week too late.

DOCTOR MILNER ON TRIAL

On Jan. 13, 2025, Steven Milner went on trial — charged with stalking and murdering Kenny Fandrich. Washington County prosecutors John Gerhard and Mahalee Streblow knew they confronted a problem with out that maroon minivan, the place they consider Steven Milner murdered Kenny.

John Gerhard: All of the proof that was contained in the van was misplaced with it. … the largest disappointment for us is there was probably a whole lot of forensic proof …

However prosecutors had some forensic proof they are saying put Steven Milner on the scene: DNA from swabs taken of Kenny Fandrich’s palms.

Det. Devin Rigo: I bear in mind getting an electronic mail of the outcomes and instantly opening it and being like, “Oh my gosh, that is it.” … Steven Milner’s DNA was on Kenneth Fandrich’s palms. …

Natalie Morales: Now you actually felt such as you had your case made.

Det. Devin Rigo: Sure, as a result of there isn’t any method he may clarify away why his DNA would’ve been on Kenneth’s physique. 

Steven Milner would have an evidence for that. To everybody’s shock, Milner took the stand, admitting he did spray paint the cameras and was within the Intel storage ready for Kenny. He introduced what detectives believed was a far-fetched clarification: he was making an attempt to save lots of Tanya. There have been no cameras in courtroom, however there may be audio of Milner telling Prosecutor John Gerhard why he was within the Intel lot that day.

STEVEN MILNER (in courtroom): I used to be making an attempt to get him arrested for driving whereas he was drunk, or driving and not using a license.

JOHN GERHARD: Why was it your accountability to implement Oregon visitors legal guidelines?

STEVEN MILNER: I used to be making an attempt to maintain Tanya from getting killed.

John Gerhard: He had this delusional perception that he wanted to guard Tanya Fandrich.

Mahalee Streblow: The protection case, it appeared to be … to sort of get the jury to possibly really feel sympathetic to Milner.

And Milner insisted it was Kenny who attacked him after Kenny noticed Milner contained in the maroon minivan.

Det. Devin Rigo: Steven primarily stated, properly, I knew I used to be caught. So, I opened the door to kinda confront him. After which Kenneth attacked me.

STEVEN MILNER (in courtroom): We principally fought for somewhat bit. … there was pushing and shoving … ultimately I used to be in a position to sort of push him up towards the automobile and — after which shove him into the automobile. 

Gerhard challenged Milner’s self-defense story.

JOHN GERHARD (in courtroom): Is that push that causes him to fall into his seat?

STEVEN MILNER: He hit up towards the automobile after which sort of tripped on the identical time. And I saved pushing. 

Mahalee Streblow: His testimony … simply did not line up with the bodily proof on the scene …

Det. Devin Rigo: To my data — bumping your head on the automobile door just isn’t going to interrupt your neck.

After six hours of deliberations, the jury discovered Steven Milner responsible of murdering Kenny Fandrich, and a number of stalking expenses. 

Cameras had been allowed for Steven Milner’s sentencing listening to, which came about on Feb. 18, 2025. Tanya, who requested to not be proven on digicam, gave a robust assertion directed at Steven Milner. Prosecutor Mahalee Streblow learn us her phrases: 

Mahalee Streblow (studying aloud): “All you needed to do was cease … hear me clearly, once I say you’re a vengeful, misleading, manipulating, self-serving, aggressive, hateful, mendacity predator… and all you needed to do was cease.”

Milner was sentenced to life in jail, with the opportunity of parole after 25 years. Milner didn’t reply to “48 Hours”‘ request for an interview. 

Mahalee Streblow: This case highlights the very worst-case situation … take stalking significantly.

Kenny’s lawyer, Michael Fuller, says what occurred highlights the boundaries of the system that’s supposed to guard victims of stalking.

Michael Fuller: Kenny … known as the police. When that did not work, he bought a lawyer … Kenny did all the things he may underneath the authorized system, and it did not assist him in any respect.

After Kenny’s dying, Fuller filed a wrongful dying swimsuit on behalf of Kenny’s property asking for damages of a number of million {dollars}. Fuller believes Milner made tens of millions from actual property investments and the sale of his enterprise.

Michael Fuller: Within the wrongful dying case, my targets are to extract as a lot cash as we are able to out of Milner … If the property recovered any cash for Kenny, it might go to his spouse.

For Milner’s former veterinary purchasers, it was exhausting to reconcile the physician they knew, with a now-convicted assassin.

Cheryl Choquette: I couldn’t consider that it was the identical man. …

Darlyn Robinson: I simply consider that he ended up going by some kind of psychosis … And I feel that … sooner or later he snapped …

Det. Devin Rigo: I feel it actually will get all the way down to, like, you by no means know what anyone is able to. … you by no means know what monster may be inside …

Natalie Morales: Nearly a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde state of affairs?

Det. Devin Rigo: Yeah, completely.

Det. Stephanie Winter: Yeah. 

Darlyn Robinson: He had all the things to stay for. , he … may do something he needed to do. … And that is the place it ended up. … It is actual unhappy.

 

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Produced by Chuck Stevenson and Lauren Clark. Greg Kaplan and Michael Baluzy are the editors. Lauren Turner Dunn is the affiliate producer. Cindy Cesare, Danielle Austen and Michelle Sigona are the event producers. Anthony Batson is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.