A man involved in a rollover crash on Interstate 5 near Ridgefield on Sunday night admitted to first responders that he killed somebody in Oregon.
Troopers with the Washington State Patrol responded to a crash at about 8:40 p.m. after a 2015 Subaru left the roadway on I-5 in Ridgefield, Trooper Will Finn said.
The vehicle struck the jersey barrier and rolled before landing on its top, Finn said.
The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Gregory Siegberg, 62, of Milwaukie, Ore., was trapped inside, though he had no apparent injuries, Finn said.
Siegberg “told troopers he was coming from Milwaukie, Ore., and he had just killed someone,” Finn said. He allegedly told firefighters as well, according to court documents filed in the case.
Troopers spoke with authorities in Oregon and learned there was an active homicide investigation by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
That investigation began when Oregon authorities were called to a residence at 13614 S.E. River Road, outside of Milwaukie, Ore., for a reported shooting around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, about an hour before the crash.
Debra Kusch-Siegberg, the 61-year-old ex-wife of the suspect, called 911 to report that Siegberg had come downstairs and shot an acquaintance, Melissa Elaine Vargas, 53, in the back of the neck, according to the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. The Gaston, Ore., resident died from her injuries.
Siegberg then shot at his ex-wife multiple times as she ran from their home to a neighbor’s house, where she called 911, authorities said.
After the crash, Siegberg was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center before he was booked into the Clark County Jail on a felony warrant and on suspicion of driving under the influence of intoxicants, Finn said.
Clackamas County deputies traveled to Vancouver where they confirmed Siegberg’s identity and interviewed him.
Siegberg, appearing in Clark County Superior Court on Monday wearing a suicide-prevention smock, did not object to extradition. Court records show the warrant was issued in Clackamas County, Ore., on suspicion of attempted aggravated murder and murder.
Siegberg admitted to methamphetamine and alcohol problems and said he lived with his ex-wife but was planning to move out, according to court documents filed in the case.
Bail denied
Judge Scott Collier ordered no bail and said that Siegberg didn’t qualify for a court-appointed attorney because he makes too much money, though he said that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t qualify in Clackamas County.
Deputies investigating the homicide are seeking the public’s help in gathering information about the case and Siegberg. Anyone with tips can call 503-723-4949 or visit http://web3.clackamas.us/contact/tip.jsp, referencing case 16-32525.
