Edward Delon Warren

Overview

Edward Delon Warren (1953 – 2003) was an American criminal and serial killer whose heinous acts left a dark stain on the state of Oregon. A career criminal with a history of robbery and burglary, Warren was most notoriously convicted for the double murder of a young couple in Brookings, Oregon, in 1979. Although initially sentenced to death, his sentence was later commuted to two life imprisonment terms, which he served until his death in 2003. In a twist of fate, five years after his passing, Warren's DNA would link him to an unsolved murder from 1976, making it the oldest cold case solved in the state’s history.

Quick Facts

• Born: 1953, Brookings, Oregon, U.S.
• Died: 2003 (aged 49–50), Salem, Oregon, U.S.
• Conviction: Murder x2
• Criminal Penalty: Death sentence; commuted to life imprisonment x2
• Details of Victims: 3
• Span of Crimes: 1976–1979
• Country: United States
• State: Oregon
• Date Apprehended: October 4, 1979

Early Life and Criminal Beginnings

Not much is known about Warren's upbringing, but it's clear that his life took a dark turn at an early age. Growing up in Brookings, he was the older of two siblings. His first recorded crime occurred in January 1972 when he boldly robbed a convenience store in Portland. This crime landed him behind bars, but in a shocking turn of events, he managed to escape within the year.

After his escape, Warren traveled to Salem, where he committed another brazen act: he broke into a woman’s home, tied her up at gunpoint, and stole her car. Unsurprisingly, he was quickly reapprehended. He remained incarcerated from December 1973 until March 24, 1976, when he was paroled, setting the stage for the horrific crimes that would follow.

The Murders

Rosa Cinnamon

On the morning of March 24, 1976, Warren was paroled and made his way to Portland, where he was required to check in with his parole officer. During this visit, he told authorities that he planned to study at Portland Community College and stay at a residence hotel. However, as night fell, Warren's true intentions became chillingly clear.

In search of a target for burglary, he chose the apartment of 80-year-old Rosa Cinnamon, an elderly woman originally from Dayton. In a brutal encounter, he kicked in her door and struggled with her, sustaining scratches in the process. Despite her valiant efforts to fight back, Warren overpowered her, beat her, and ultimately strangled her to death. Her body was discovered the following day, but with no immediate suspects, the case quickly grew cold and would remain unsolved for the next 30 years.

Ricky Hemphill and Charla Toma

Fast forward to September 9, 1979, when the body of 19-year-old Coast Guard petty officer Ricky Dale Hemphill was found at a gravel bar near the Chetco River, approximately 16 miles east of Brookings. Hemphill, who hailed from Riverside, California, was stationed in Brookings and was last seen driving his pickup truck with his girlfriend, 18-year-old Charla Toma, from Lincoln City. Tragically, Hemphill had been shot twice in the back.

What investigators discovered next would blow your mind. About 24 miles upstream, another body was located, later identified as Charla Toma. The following day, during a routine traffic stop in Port Orford, police encountered a vehicle occupied by three men: Warren, 26, George Rose, 34, and an unidentified third man. In a frantic attempt to escape, Warren and Rose bolted into the woods, leaving the third man behind. After an intense hour-long chase with police bloodhounds, both men were apprehended. Warren was quickly detained as a primary suspect in the Brookings murders while Rose was returned to the Tillamook Forestry Camp, where he was already serving time for first-degree robbery and attempted assault.

Trial, Imprisonment, and Death

During his February 1980 trial for the murders of Hemphill and Toma, Warren offered a chilling defense, claiming a profane remark from Hemphill had provoked him into shooting. Following the shooting, he ordered Toma to drive Hemphill's truck up the Chetco River, where he would shoot her in the back three times before leaving her for dead.

Justice Frederick Starkweather Jr. sentenced Warren to death, condemning him as a violent criminal who posed a significant danger to society. However, in a surprising twist, the Oregon Supreme Court later commuted his death sentence to two life terms. Warren spent the remainder of his life in prison. In 1999, his DNA was entered into a national database—a decision that would ultimately link him to the cold case of Rosa Cinnamon.

In 2003, Warren died from respiratory failure inside a Salem prison hospital, seemingly taking the secrets of his past with him.

The Cold Case Breakthrough

In 2009, a breakthrough came when the Portland Police Department announced that Edward Delon Warren had been linked to the brutal murder of Rosa Cinnamon through DNA found under her fingernails. This revelation made her case the oldest solved cold case in Oregon's history, closing a chapter that had remained open for over three decades.

Conclusion

The story of Edward Delon Warren is one that intertwines the threads of violence, desperation, and the relentless pursuit of justice. His crimes not only devastated families but also left a lasting mark on the community, serving as a reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface.

Sources

• "Death sentence meted slayer". The Bulletin. February 23, 1980.
• Bernstein, Maxine. "33-year-old Portland murder solved with DNA match". The Oregonian. April 28, 2009.
• "Man's body found". The Bulletin. September 10, 1979.
• "Victim's vehicle found; companion still being sought". The Register-Guard. October 3, 1979.
• "Murder suspect arrested". The Bulletin. October 5, 1979.

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