Respiratory therapist who killed and dismembered his roommate is sentenced

OREGON CITY, Ore. (TCN) -- A man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for killing his roommate, whose dismembered remains were found in a landfill.

The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office announced March 19 that 48-year-old Jamon Fritsch received a sentence of life in prison after he pleaded guilty last week to second-degree murder and first-degree abuse of a corpse.

According to prosecutors, 49-year-old Kara Taylor and her adult daughter moved in with the defendant several weeks before the victim was killed. Taylor and Fritsch knew each other professionally and both worked as respiratory therapists.

On July 27, 2023, Fritsch reported Taylor missing, and Oregon City Police quickly identified him as a suspect in Taylor’s disappearance and suspected death.

Police discovered through cellphone and video surveillance that Fritsch bought zip ties, heavy-duty trash bags, a large tote, tarps, hair and grease drain cleaner, and Comet cleanser at Home Depot shortly after reporting his roommate missing. According to the district attorney’s office, surveillance also captured Fritsch throwing items away at a landfill.

Fritsch reportedly emailed a detective on Aug. 6, 2023, and admitted to killing Taylor. Police found evidence of blood throughout Fritsch’s home during a search warrant, and Oregon City Police arrested him on Aug. 7, 2023.

After the defendant’s arrest, authorities began searching the Coffin Butte Landfill on Aug. 11, 2023, and found Taylor’s remains several days later.

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