Authorities say a tragic call from a Sutherlin motel ended with divers pulling an infant's body from the South Umpqua River near Roseburg on Sunday evening. Investigators believe the remains are those of an 11-month-old boy whose father, 27-year-old Jared Scott Jeremy Stoller, reported him missing that morning, then allegedly admitted to killing the child days earlier and dumping the body in the river. Stoller was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and first-degree abuse of a corpse, and an autopsy is planned to determine how the baby died.
What investigators say
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said Stoller called 911 shortly before 10 a.m. from the Relax Inn in Sutherlin to report his son missing. When Sutherlin police checked the motel room, they found what officials described as suspicious circumstances. Detectives with the Douglas County Major Crimes Team interviewed Stoller, who they say confessed to killing his son and said he had thrown the child into the South Umpqua River.
Search teams moved quickly. Sheriff’s office divers, working with boats from Oregon State Police and other county resources, located the infant's body just before 6 p.m. near the 3500-block of Old Melrose Road. According to the sheriff’s news release, investigators have listed charges of murder in the first degree and abuse of a corpse in the first degree, and the case remains active. The office is asking anyone with information to call 541-440-4471 and reference Case #26-0836.
Local reporting and next steps
The Oregonian/OregonLive reported additional details on the case and identified the infant as 11-month-old Jaxson. Authorities have turned the child’s remains over to the Douglas County Medical Examiner’s Office, which plans to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death.
The Douglas County Major Crimes Team is leading the investigation, working in coordination with the Roseburg Police Department, Oregon State Police and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office as they piece together the full timeline.
Legal implications
According to the sheriff’s release, Stoller is being held at the Douglas County Jail on the listed charges while detectives and prosecutors continue building the case. The allegations currently noted by investigators are first-degree murder and first-degree abuse of a corpse. Formal charging documents and any initial court dates had not been released at the time of the statement.
Officials say they expect to share additional information as the investigation moves forward and are again urging anyone with relevant tips to contact the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office tip line.
