An Oregon man was charged wtih murder this week after his partner was found dead in a ditch in Sherwood.

Washington County Sheriff’s Offfice said deputies found Mary McDowell, 64, outside her home just after 4:30 a.m. on December 13. They took 38-year-old Jose Lucase Morfin Jr. into custody at the time.

A week later, a grand jury indicted Morfin on charges of manslaughter, assault, abuse of a corpse, unlawful use of a weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm.

McDowell’s family said in a statement they were “deeply s2addened by the circumstances” surrounding her death and asked anyone with information to contact police.

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[Featured image: Jose Lucase Morfin Jr and Mary McDowell/Washington County Sheriff’s Office]