PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Chad Michael Westover was found guilty of stabbing a postal worker to death during a physical fight at an apartment complex on Southeast Sunnyside Road last year.
A Clackamas County jury found Westover, 53, guilty of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon after he repeatedly stabbed Tristan Thomas on Sept. 21, 2024.
“Earlier in the day, Thomas quarreled with a neighbor, Christopher Stewart. Thomas pepper-sprayed Stewart, who pushed Thomas to the ground. That night, Thomas encountered Stewart’s teenage daughter who was alarmed and called Stewart,” the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office said, explaining what led up to the stabbing, in a press release.
The DA’s office continued: “Stewart, Westover and Westover’s cousin, Samantha Christensen, then confronted Thomas, who had armed himself with a large kitchen knife. Thomas called 911 and returned to the stairwell of the apartment that he shared with his mother.”
At this point, both Stewart and Christensen filmed the verbal confrontation that was unfolding. However, according to court documents, Westover told them, “If you guys are done filming, I can take care of it.”
However, another neighbor continued filming, after which point Christensen could be heard saying, “I’m done, take care of it, Chad.”
“Westover went to the stairwell of Thomas’ apartment. There was a scuffle outside the apartment followed by a three-minute attack, which was captured on video and recorded on Thomas’ 911 call,” the DA’s office said. “Several neighbors and Thomas’ mother yelled at Westover, who was on top of Thomas and stabbing him with the kitchen knife, to halt the assault. Westover was also injured during the altercation.”
According to court documents, Thomas was left in a “pool of his blood” at the Twin Creeks Apartments until law enforcement responded and performed life-saving measures. He was taken to the hospital with a 4-inch slash to the left major artery on his neck and several stab wounds, but survived temporarily. He died at the hospital more than a week later, on October 3, 2024.
“Westover fled the scene and was arrested on Sept. 26 at an Oregon City post office. He told others that he sustained his injuries in a motorcycle accident,” the DA’s office said.
Westover’s attorneys laid the blame on Thomas, who they said was intoxicated on the night of the stabbing. They claimed Thomas held a grudge against Stewart, behaving as an unstable and unreasonable aggressor in that pursuit. Westover’s attorneys also pointed to stab wounds on their client’s neck, inflicted by Thomas.
Westover is being held at the Clackamas County jail without bail and he is slated to be sentenced on November 17.
Danny Peterson
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