Tillamook County Sheriff's Office, Oregon - Press Release 03-18-2006
http://www.tillamooksheriff.org

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Tillamook man arrested in Oceanside murder

05:31 PM PST on Saturday, March 18, 2006
By KRISTINA BRENNEMAN, kgw.com Staff

OCEANSIDE, Ore. -- A Tillamook construction worker was arrested Friday night for allegedly killing an Oceanside woman and then setting her home on fire, police said.

Frank Hoyt, 29, is charged with the murder of an Oceanside resident. Frank Hoyt Pike, 29, has been charged with aggravated murder, robbery in the first degree, arson in the first degree and burglary in the first degree, said Tillamook County Sheriff Todd Anderson.

Pike, a construction worker, is being held at the Tillamook County jail. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday at Tillamook County Circuit Court.

Anderson described the murder of Oceanside resident Julie Herman, 60, as “stranger to stranger.” Evidence and witnesses allegedly placed Pike at Herman's house before the fire, he said. What started as a robbery, turned into murder, the sheriff said.

An autopsy revealed Herman died of homicidal violence prior to the outset of the fire, Anderson said.

“We have not had a crime like this in 21-plus years,” he said.

Anderson said police continue to sift through the crime scene Saturday.

Herman's friend Rosemary Heesacker described her as "darn generous of herself, so giving. We're all going to miss that."

Herman, a retired dental assistant, was a widow with two grown children.

A memorial service was held Saturday at the Oceanside Community Center, where Herman had been treasurer.

Anderson said Pike, who has a criminal history in other states, was identified early as a suspect after police responded to Thursday's fire at Herman's house.

Pike had been convicted of shaking his infant son to death in Virginia, authorities said.

Tillamook County firefighters received a 9-1-1 call at 2:45 p.m. Thursday saying a three-level house at 544 Birch St. in Oceanside was on fire, Anderson said.

The fire did significant damage to the lower and middle floors of the home, he said. After the fire was extinguished, investigators discovered Herman’s body.

Police believed the fire had been set to cover up her death.