Nine years after 36-year-old Brian Spaulding was found shot to death inside a Northeast Portland home, his family is still waiting for answers and the reward they pulled together is still sitting unclaimed. Friends and relatives have about $20,000 set aside for information leading to an arrest, and investigators say even a small tip could finally move the case. Spaulding was found dead on June 12, 2017, at a residence on the 3500 block of Northeast 10th Avenue. The Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide.
Police ask for tips
In a press release via Portland Police Bureau, detectives said they "have never stopped working this case," explaining they have followed leads and reexamined evidence over the past nine years. The bureau reiterated that tips can be sent to [email protected] and confirmed the family-raised reward is approximately $20,000. Investigators did not name any suspects in the statement.
Family remembers Brian
Relatives have used each anniversary of Spaulding’s death to keep the investigation in the public eye and to urge anyone with information to come forward. In an interview with KPTV, Brian's father, George, recalled finding his son and pleaded for anyone who knows something to speak up. Local reporting notes police have pursued leads across state lines but have not gathered enough evidence to make an arrest.
Community fundraising kept reward alive
Friends and neighbors organized benefit events and collection drives to build the reward fund and keep attention on the case. As detailed in the community’s seven-year push to keep the case alive, those efforts helped preserve the roughly $20,000 reward and maintain annual appeals for information. Organizers say the pooled money is there to reach anyone who might hesitate to come forward without a financial incentive.
How to report a tip
Police are asking that tips be emailed to [email protected]. For those who prefer to stay anonymous, secure tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Oregon, which local coverage has said offers up to $2,500 for information that leads to an arrest, per KPTV. Tips should include as many details as possible, such as dates, times, vehicle descriptions, or identifying information, to help detectives evaluate leads. Investigators have emphasized that even a small, previously overlooked detail could be the key to moving the long-running inquiry forward.
Case status
The investigation remains open and unsolved, and the Portland Police Bureau says detectives will continue to chase leads and reexamine evidence. Anyone with information is asked to contact [email protected], per the bureau's recent release.
