Real life slaying horrifies Shakespeare town

[ellisonz]

Source: AP

By JEFF BARNARD | AP – 8 hrs ago

ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) — In this storybook Southern Oregon town, murder is commonplace on the stages of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where sword fights are carefully choreographed entertainment, and the blood that spurts is fake.

The real-life slaying of a young grocery clerk nearly decapitated by an apparent stranger wielding a sword or machete has sent a shiver of horror through residents and visitors alike, and stumped investigators desperately searching for clues.

A small shrine is growing on the side of the bike path where 23-year-old David Grubbs was killed last weekend while walking home from work, the way he had countless times, just as darkness was falling. It's an open place next to a parking lot where the path goes through a park with ball fields and tennis courts — and past an elementary school — where parents bring their small children to play.

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Police have little to go on. No one has come forward to say they witnessed the slaying. No weapon has been found. The 911 call came from a woman riding her bike down the path, who was stopped by a man who found Grubbs lying in the bike path. They initially thought Grubbs was passed out, but on looking closer saw the deep wounds around his head and neck, said Police Chief Terry Holderness. Investigators don't think either of them had anything to do with the slaying. The woman saw a man leaving the area, but didn't get a good look at him. Police have not found him.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/real-life-slaying-horrifies-shakespeare-town-224623864.html

[mrchrism]

1. 'Sblood

A murther most foul.

[Botany]

2. Welcome to DU

Alas, poor David! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite
jest, of most excellent fancy.

[BlueIris]

3. Jesus Christ. We just barely passed on an opportunity to go down there a couple weeks back.

We are big Shakespeare fans around here and have really enjoyed the festival and the wonderful community that creates it.

I actually can't believe this happened down there. If there's anything I love about Southern Oregon it's that it is, in some ways, a big outgrowth of North State. Nice people, very laid back and friendly a lot of the time.

I can't ever recall anything like this happening in that area. Terrible event for all involved.

[lunatica]

7. I'm sorry this happened in your town

What a terrible shock it must be! I hope this is solved very quickly so the citizens can move past the shock and be able to pull their lives together.

[BlueIris]

8. It's not my town. I don't live anywhere near Ashland. However, I have vacationed there

several times and I think it's a great community. The Rogue River Valley is a terrific place to live. I can't believe they have been victimized by such a sick person.

[Bosonic]

4. Is there a nearby Wes Craven town?

[meow2u3]

5. Something is rotten in the state of Oregon n/t

[_eh]

6. Meanwhile here

in Windsor, Ontario (a city of 215,000), we just had our first murder in over two years.

[ellisonz]

18. Welcome to DU Canuck!

:donut:

[csziggy]

21. Welcome to DU!

And what a coincidence - I've just been researching some ancestors that lived in Windsor, Ontario in the mid 1800s, the Brand and the Haney families. They were Scots who moved to Canada, the Brands around 1830 and the Haneys earlier - one was born in "Lower Canada" in 1817.

[BlueIris]

9. These puns are making me cry. A person died.

Horribly. That is not something to make jokes about.

[lunatica]

10. Yes. It's crude and mean spirited and callous.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. I agree with you

Ashland is a wonderful town, the Festival does some of the best theater in the country, and I have several friends who live there. The Festival has been a lifelong influence on me as has the community of Ashland itself. This is awful for them.
This season was great, by the way, and next season is going to have some really compelling and often political work. I hope this tragic event does not discourage anyone from visiting.

[Poll_Blind]

11. What a nightmare- such a violent, seemingly random crime in a place so peaceful.

I hope they catch David's killer- before they have a chance to kill again.

PB

[Tom Ripley]

13. Christopher Marlowe did it

[castnet55]

14. Ashland

I went to college there for awhile. A wonderful small college town, alot of good people there hang out at the park in down town.
They've had some rapes there awhile back but this is way out of the norm for them. Most of the violence I think comes from Medford just a little ways from there.The difference between to two cities is like daylight and dark.
What a shame for his family and friends.

[ellisonz]

19. Welcome to DU!

:donut:

[primavera]

15. Apparently even their criminals have a flair for the dramatic - n/t

[Quantess]

16. Ashland is along the I-5

Maybe the perp was just passing through.
Interesting.

[ellisonz]

20. That'd be my guess too.

Not much going on in Ashland compared to say Grants Pass or Medford. It's really quiet and secluded.

[uppityperson]

17. Shit. My kid is down there, young adult. shit shit shit. How awful for David and the community.