The Murder of Roxanne Duehren

For this case, I watched an episode of Forensic Files. It’s season 11 episode 39, titled ‘Fired Up.’

A couple’s dream home goes up in flames.

Background

Derrick and Roxanne Duehren seemed like a perfect couple. They lived in a large home in Gales Creek, Oregon, about a half n hour from Portland. The home had a horse farm for Roxanne, and they were having a 1,500 square feet addition added onto the home.

Roxanne loved to show and take care of her horses. Roxanne’s sister, Barbara, said the horses balanced her life out. Roxanne and Derrick both had stressful jobs in the computer industry.

The Fire

In 1996, the neighbors who lived about a quarter of a mile away from the Duehren’s saw smoke in the distance. The fire department was called, and it took them about 2o minutes to arrive.

Derrick had returned home from grocery shopping. He saw Roxanne’s car in the garage, and told the first responders that he thought his wife was still in the home.

It took about 3 hours for the fire to be put out. Roxanne’s charred remains were found in the home. Roxanne’s remains weighed about 35 pounds. Her remains had to be identified by using bone marrow material, and getting some samples from Roxanne’s parents. The remains were 100% identified as Roxanne. She was only 34 years old.

The fire was very strange. The police didn’t believe it was an accident as Derrick claimed. The police had also found pieces of a handgun next to Roxanne’s body.

Derrick’s Story

The police spoke to Derrick about the fire. Derrick had an explanation. He said that the pipes were frozen due to the weather, so he started the washing machine to unfreeze them. He had left the door to the machine open, and the machine was used propane gas.

The police also noticed that Derrick had scratches on his face. Derrick also had an explanation to that. He said he had been outside clearing debris, and the scratches were from tree branches.

Derrick handed over his receipt from grocery shopping. The police still didn’t know if he was telling the truth about everything, but it seemed like he wasn’t home when the fire was set.

The Motive

The police looked into other possible theories about how the fire was set. The police noticed that Roxanne’s car battery was disconnected. They thought it was possible that the battery could’ve sparked. The garage was near the portion of the home that was being remodeled. Only the frames for the walls were up, so the fire could’ve spread faster through the house. Forensic experts examined the battery, and didn’t find any signs of arching, meaning it wasn’t the cause of the fire.

The police had believed Derrick’s story, until Detective Larry McKinney found small pellets near the washing machine. The pellets were determined to be kitty litter. Derrick had been an Eagle Scout, and knew that kitty litter and gasoline was a fast way to start a campfire. Roxanne and Derrick did have cats, but the litter box wasn’t anywhere near their laundry room.

The medical examiner examined Roxanne’s remains. They discovered that Roxanne didn’t have any ash or soot in her lungs, and there was no sign of carbon monoxide in her blood. Roxanne had died before the fire in the home was set. The medical examiner couldn’t determine the exact cause of death, but they also found blood in her airway, suggesting that whatever the cause of death was, was violent and personal.

Roxanne and Derrick were known to fight a lot about money, especially money that Roxanne spent on her horses. Derrick also learned through his job at Intel, that he was going to be transferred about 150 miles away. Roxanne’s sister said Roxanne didn’t want to move, and probably started standing up for herself.

The Evidence

The police continued to examine the washing machine. They learned that the propane gas line hadn’t been connected at the time that the fire was set.

At first, they thought that it could have gotten disconnected when the firefighters put out the fire. However, a forensic metallurgist determined that it was disconnected before the fire was set.

The police once again questioned Derrick. Derrick said he didn’t set the fire, and wouldn’t kill Roxanne. The police found a stain on Derrick’s jeans that he had been wearing on the day of the fire. Derrick said that it was mud. A phenolphthalein test was done on the spot. It was determined to be Roxanne’s blood.

Derrick Duehren was arrested, and charged with arson and murder.

The Conviction

Derrick was described as very cocky. He had emailed his friends and co-workers at Intel about the trial. He described it was a chess match, and believed that he would be acquitted.

It’s believed that Derrick and Roxanne had gotten into an argument on the day she died. Derrick then grabbed Roxanne, but she fought back, and scratched him. Derrick was able to overpower her and kill her. Derrick then set the fire in the home, and went to the grocery store to establish an alibi.

The jury was unable to come to a decision whether or not they could find Derrick guilty of murder. Roxanne’s cause of death was never determined.

Derrick was found guilty of arson and first degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Other

Derrick was released from prison on November 30, 2006. He remarried in 2010, to a woman named Jeannine.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It’s hard to say what really happened in this case. I believed Derrick probably killed Roxanne. How else would the blood in her airway, and no soot or ash in her lungs be explained? It’s possible that someone else killed Roxanne. But, their closest neighbors were a quarter of a mile away, so it’s unlikely.

Derrick’s behavior was strange. I know everyone says you never know how someone will react. But, telling people you’ll be acquitted definitely doesn’t scream innocent. It’s strange, but hopefully Derrick will never hurt anyone else. Ten years is quite a light sentence, so he’s lucky that he was released.

Sources

http://www.allreadable.com/257bEzE0

http://www.duehrenmurdertrial.com - If you want a more in depth look at the case and evidence. This was an amazing write up!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1771255/

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