Homicide case goes to Wheeler County grand jury

By Darryl Swan

The South County Spotlight, Nov 4, 2009, Updated Nov 4, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

A Wheeler County homicide case involving a Scappoose family is expected to go to grand jury later this week, said an

Oregon State Police captain who is investigating the case.

OSP Capt. Travis Hampton said Monday he expects the investigation into the shooting death of northeast Portland’s Frank Means, 61, to go in front of a Wheeler County grand jury either Thursday or Friday.

Wheeler County District Attorney Daniel Ousley, while not confirming a date for the grand jury, said he expects the next release of information related to the shooting to occur after the grand jury decision to determine charges,if any.

Little information is known about the Scappoose family’s role in the shooting, and Wheeler County law enforcement agencies have been tight-lipped when it comes to case details. A press release dated Oct. 28 lists four members of a Scappoose family by age only as being involved in the shooting death of Means.

The members include three men, ages 65, 33 and 31, and one 11-year-old juvenile. No names have been released.

No arrests have been made in the shooting, and Hampton said the Scappoose family is not under police surveillance. The lack of available information has been a source of frustration for Jackie Means, Frank’s widow.

“I cannot tell you how frustrating it has been,” Jackie said.

Frank was hunting a remote section of the John Day River when he was approached by another group of hunters, resulting in a confrontation, according to early law enforcement reports. The State Medical Examiner determined Means died from multiple gunshot wounds.

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