What started as a frantic 911 call from Blue Lake Park has now turned into a full-blown homicide case, with deputies arresting a Portland man accused of killing his girlfriend’s two-year-old daughter.
Detectives with the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, working with the U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, took 28-year-old Dison Ruda into custody early Wednesday near Southeast 92nd Avenue and Southeast Powell Boulevard in Portland. The child was found unresponsive at Blue Lake Park in Fairview last March, and the state medical examiner later ruled the death a homicide.
Arrest and Charges
Investigators booked Ruda into the Multnomah County Detention Center on accusations that include Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, Assault in the Third Degree, and two counts of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said they found Ruda around 6 a.m. Wednesday and transported him to the Multnomah County Justice Center.
Authorities stressed that these are allegations and that Ruda, like anyone under arrest, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Sheriff Praises Multi-Agency Work
“This arrest represents months of investigative work and a collaborative effort between the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office and our essential public safety and medical partners,” Sheriff Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell said in a post on X. The statement credited detectives from the East County Major Crimes Team, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, the Oregon State Police Crime Lab, and hospital staff for their roles in keeping the case moving.
How the Investigation Unfolded
The case began just before noon on March 28, 2025, when deputies were called to Blue Lake Park at 20500 Northeast Marine Drive in Fairview after reports of a man carrying an unresponsive child. Deputies found a two-year-old girl unconscious and not breathing, and detectives immediately opened a suspicious-circumstance investigation that included forensic testing.
On March 16, 2026, the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office determined the child’s death was a homicide, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. That ruling pushed the case fully into homicide territory and set the stage for Wednesday’s arrest.
Why the U.S. Marshals Were Involved
Multnomah County detectives said the U.S. Marshals task force stepped in to help track down the suspect. The Marshals’ Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a U.S. Marshals-led partnership that helps local agencies arrest dangerous fugitives across Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. The partnership routinely provides investigative resources and personnel to locate and apprehend violent offenders, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
What Happens Next
Ruda is expected to make his first court appearance at 9 a.m. Thursday in Courtroom 3 at the Multnomah County Justice Center, the sheriff’s office said. Officials are withholding the child’s name to protect the family’s privacy and cited ORS 133.870, which generally limits the release of jail booking photos.
