Arrest lends hope to Santiam Canyon family
Justin Much
Stayton Mail
Following the arrest of a man in connection with the 2013 murder of Juan Hernandez, the victim's family has released a statement.
Grants Pass police reported recently that Kevin Scott Copeland was arrested in Scottsdale, Ariz., and charged with the Aug. 3, 2013, murder of Hernandez, who grew up in the Lyons area.
Hernandez had lived in Grants Pass briefly while looking for work prior to his murder. He was 36.
Police said Copeland, 35, has been charged with murder with a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He has been awaiting extradition from Arizona to Grants Pass in Josephine County.
In 2013 many of Hernandez friends and family members were shocked and sought answers to what happened, how it happened, and why. But few were forthcoming. This week in a statement issued to the Stayton Mail, his family asserted that after he was found deceased with a gunshot wound to the head, they were left with unanswered questions and heartbreak.
Through the statement the family said:
"We would like to thank everyone for their support, prayers and thoughts through this difficult and long process. There has been a recent arrest of a suspect in the investigation into the death of our son, brother, uncle, father, cousin and friend Juan Hernandez. Juan grew up and lived almost his entire life in the Lyons area and was known to all as a friendly, fun guy."
The family expressed relief, if not closure, in Copeland's arrest:
"We would like to thank everyone for their support and prayers as this ordeal moves into the next phase. We hope for justice for Juan. We hope to finally know why this happened. Juan touched so many lives and he is greatly missed."
A report issued by the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety said Copeland was interviewed as a possible witness shortly after Hernandez's death. In March, 2016, the Josephine County District Attorney's Office issued an arrest warrant for Copeland.
The report said Scottsdale Police "had contact with Copeland and arrested him on the Oregon warrant" in the early morning hours of March 29. He was lodged in Maricopa County Jail and the extradition process has been initiated.
jmuch@StatesmanJournal.com or 503-769-6338, cell 503-508-8157 or follow at twitter.com/justinmuch