Jeffrey Paul Cutlip
Oregon Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Portland, Oregon
TIME PERIOD
1975-1993
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
In a series of violent crimes spanning from 1975 to 1993 in the Portland metropolitan area, Jeffrey Paul Cutlip, born June 15, 1949, is responsible for the murders of two women and a teenage girl. The first victim, 44-year-old Marlene Claire Carlson, was murdered in her apartment on July 30, 1975, where Cutlip attempted to smother her before strangling her with a telephone cord. On April 4, 1977, he drowned 15-year-old Julie Marie Bennett in Johnson Creek after a brutal assault, and her body was discovered two days later. Cutlip's criminal activity continued until he murdered 33-year-old Nielene Loribell Doll on July 21, 1993, after a struggle in which he attempted to tie her up for sex. Cutlip was apprehended in July 2012, confessed to the murders, and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2013. Significant evidence includes his confession and the historical context of his violent behavior, which included a prior conviction for sexual assault in 1982.
Cutlip is believed to have targeted vulnerable women and girls, exploiting their trust to carry out his crimes. Investigators speculate that he may have had more victims, as the span of his criminal activity lasted nearly two decades, and he was not apprehended until 2012. There are theories suggesting that his background and living conditions may have contributed to his violent behavior, as he was a tenant in the same building as one of his victims and had previously evaded police scrutiny.
The Sinister Path of Jeffrey Paul Cutlip
Early Life and Criminal Career
Jeffrey Paul Cutlip, born on June 15, 1949, led a life shadowed by darkness and crime, ultimately becoming a notorious American serial killer. Between 1975 and 1993, he terrorized the Portland metropolitan area in Oregon, committing heinous acts that left an indelible mark on the community. His crimes, which included the murders of two women and a teenage girl, remained unsolved for decades until his conscience compelled him to confess in 2012.
The Unseen Murders
The sinister journey began in 1975 when Cutlip entered the apartment of Marlene Claire Carlson, a 44-year-old woman, through an unlocked door. Finding her asleep, he attacked her, demanding sex. When she resisted, he attempted to smother her with a pillow. Failing in his attempt, he resorted to strangling her with a telephone cord, ultimately taking her life. His depravity knew no bounds as he proceeded to sexually assault her lifeless body. Carlson was last seen alive on July 30, 1975, but her body remained undiscovered until August 7 of that year. Despite being a tenant in the same building, Cutlip eluded police questioning.
Two years later, on April 4, 1977, Cutlip's malevolence struck again. This time, his victim was a 15-year-old girl named Julie Marie Bennett. Their paths crossed earlier that day at Johnson Creek Park. After purchasing beer and cigarettes together, he lured her to his cabin. There, he tied her hands behind her back and subjected her to a two-hour ordeal of sexual assault. When Bennett threatened to report him to the authorities, Cutlip attempted to suffocate her. Upon failing, he resorted to drowning her in Johnson Creek, dragging her body to the creek's east side. Her disappearance sparked concern among her friends, prompting a search led by her father. Tragically, her body was discovered two days later, initially believed to be an accident, though locals suspected foul play.
In 1982, Cutlip committed another vile act. He invaded a woman's home, where he tied her up and sexually assaulted her for six agonizing hours. This time, justice caught up with him. He was convicted of sodomy and first-degree burglary, earning the label of a sex offender.
A Continuing Trail of Violence
Cutlip's reign of terror continued in the summer of 1993. On July 21, 33-year-old Nielene Loribell Doll's body was discovered by a jogger off Southeast Bull Run Road near Sandy. Cutlip later claimed they had used methamphetamine together at a Portland bar before she accompanied him home. When she refused his request to be tied up for sex, a struggle ensued, resulting in her death by strangulation. He then placed her body in the trunk of her car, abandoning it in a Fred Meyer parking lot.
Even after serving time in prison, Cutlip's criminal tendencies showed no signs of abating. Seven months after his 1993 release, he committed armed robbery, leading to another arrest and a six-year prison sentence. His release in 2000 was short-lived, as he failed to register as a sex offender and left Oregon. Upon his return in 2004 to reinstate his Social Security benefits, he was arrested again, serving additional prison time after groping a teenage girl in Northeast Portland.
In 2008, Cutlip violated his parole conditions, fleeing Oregon once more. He was apprehended in Bakersfield, California, and returned to prison until his release on July 28, 2010. By January 2011, Cutlip had left Portland again, this time heading to Texas.
The Confession
In July 2012, residing in Brownsville, Texas, a burdened Cutlip reached out to the police with a chilling confession. He admitted to the murders of four women, though authorities could confirm only three of the victims. Arrested and held without bond in Portland, Oregon, Cutlip faced justice for his gruesome deeds. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and one count of aggravated murder. Consequently, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and is currently incarcerated at the Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla, Oregon.
The case of Jeffrey Paul Cutlip is a haunting reminder of the darkness that can lurk within and the chilling impact one individual can have on a community. His life of crime, marked by years of evasion and violence, finally concluded with a confession, bringing closure to the families of his victims.
Sources
- "Sex offender pleads guilty in Portland killings" - KGW, 2013
- "Confessed killer sentenced" - The Bulletin, 2014
- "Accused Oregon serial killer Jeffrey Cutlip: authorities offer new details" - Oregonlive, 2012
- "Find woman dead" - Albany Democrat-Herald, 1975
- "Sexual predator Jeffrey Cutlip to plea to three Oregon homicides" - Oregonlive, 2013
- "Jeffrey Cutlip: Sex offender profile" - Oregonlive, 2013
- "Sex offender indicted in Multnomah County on 3 separate murders in the 1970s, 1990s" - Oregonlive, 2012
- "Man pleads guilty to 3 homicides in Oregon after confession" - The Columbian, 2013
- "Killer sentenced to life in prison" - Statesman Journal
- "Oregon Offender Search"
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First Murder: Marlene Carlson
Jeffrey Cutlip murders Marlene Carlson in her apartment, attempting to smother her before strangling her with a telephone cord.
Second Murder: Julie Bennett
Cutlip drowns 15-year-old Julie Bennett in Johnson Creek after luring her to his cabin and assaulting her.
Sex Offender Conviction
Cutlip is convicted of sodomy and first-degree burglary after assaulting a woman, becoming a registered sex offender.
Third Murder: Nielene Doll
Cutlip strangles Nielene Doll after a struggle and attempts to sexually abuse her corpse, disposing of her body in a parking lot.
Confession to Murders
Cutlip confesses to murdering four women, leading to his arrest in Portland, Oregon.
Guilty Plea
Cutlip pleads guilty to two counts of murder and one count of aggravated murder for the deaths of Carlson, Bennett, and Doll.
Sentenced to Life
Jeffrey Cutlip is sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for his crimes.
In a series of violent crimes spanning from 1975 to 1993 in the Portland metropolitan area, Jeffrey Paul Cutlip, born June 15, 1949, is responsible for the murders of two women and a teenage girl. The first victim, 44-year-old Marlene Claire Carlson, was murdered in her apartment on July 30, 1975, where Cutlip attempted to smother her before strangling her with a telephone cord. On April 4, 1977, he drowned 15-year-old Julie Marie Bennett in Johnson Creek after a brutal assault, and her body was discovered two days later. Cutlip's criminal activity continued until he murdered 33-year-old Nielene Loribell Doll on July 21, 1993, after a struggle in which he attempted to tie her up for sex. Cutlip was apprehended in July 2012, confessed to the murders, and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2013. Significant evidence includes his confession and the historical context of his violent behavior, which included a prior conviction for sexual assault in 1982.
Cutlip is believed to have targeted vulnerable women and girls, exploiting their trust to carry out his crimes. Investigators speculate that he may have had more victims, as the span of his criminal activity lasted nearly two decades, and he was not apprehended until 2012. There are theories suggesting that his background and living conditions may have contributed to his violent behavior, as he was a tenant in the same building as one of his victims and had previously evaded police scrutiny.
The Sinister Path of Jeffrey Paul Cutlip
Early Life and Criminal Career
Jeffrey Paul Cutlip, born on June 15, 1949, led a life shadowed by darkness and crime, ultimately becoming a notorious American serial killer. Between 1975 and 1993, he terrorized the Portland metropolitan area in Oregon, committing heinous acts that left an indelible mark on the community. His crimes, which included the murders of two women and a teenage girl, remained unsolved for decades until his conscience compelled him to confess in 2012.
The Unseen Murders
The sinister journey began in 1975 when Cutlip entered the apartment of Marlene Claire Carlson, a 44-year-old woman, through an unlocked door. Finding her asleep, he attacked her, demanding sex. When she resisted, he attempted to smother her with a pillow. Failing in his attempt, he resorted to strangling her with a telephone cord, ultimately taking her life. His depravity knew no bounds as he proceeded to sexually assault her lifeless body. Carlson was last seen alive on July 30, 1975, but her body remained undiscovered until August 7 of that year. Despite being a tenant in the same building, Cutlip eluded police questioning.
Two years later, on April 4, 1977, Cutlip's malevolence struck again. This time, his victim was a 15-year-old girl named Julie Marie Bennett. Their paths crossed earlier that day at Johnson Creek Park. After purchasing beer and cigarettes together, he lured her to his cabin. There, he tied her hands behind her back and subjected her to a two-hour ordeal of sexual assault. When Bennett threatened to report him to the authorities, Cutlip attempted to suffocate her. Upon failing, he resorted to drowning her in Johnson Creek, dragging her body to the creek's east side. Her disappearance sparked concern among her friends, prompting a search led by her father. Tragically, her body was discovered two days later, initially believed to be an accident, though locals suspected foul play.
In 1982, Cutlip committed another vile act. He invaded a woman's home, where he tied her up and sexually assaulted her for six agonizing hours. This time, justice caught up with him. He was convicted of sodomy and first-degree burglary, earning the label of a sex offender.
A Continuing Trail of Violence
Cutlip's reign of terror continued in the summer of 1993. On July 21, 33-year-old Nielene Loribell Doll's body was discovered by a jogger off Southeast Bull Run Road near Sandy. Cutlip later claimed they had used methamphetamine together at a Portland bar before she accompanied him home. When she refused his request to be tied up for sex, a struggle ensued, resulting in her death by strangulation. He then placed her body in the trunk of her car, abandoning it in a Fred Meyer parking lot.
Even after serving time in prison, Cutlip's criminal tendencies showed no signs of abating. Seven months after his 1993 release, he committed armed robbery, leading to another arrest and a six-year prison sentence. His release in 2000 was short-lived, as he failed to register as a sex offender and left Oregon. Upon his return in 2004 to reinstate his Social Security benefits, he was arrested again, serving additional prison time after groping a teenage girl in Northeast Portland.
In 2008, Cutlip violated his parole conditions, fleeing Oregon once more. He was apprehended in Bakersfield, California, and returned to prison until his release on July 28, 2010. By January 2011, Cutlip had left Portland again, this time heading to Texas.
The Confession
In July 2012, residing in Brownsville, Texas, a burdened Cutlip reached out to the police with a chilling confession. He admitted to the murders of four women, though authorities could confirm only three of the victims. Arrested and held without bond in Portland, Oregon, Cutlip faced justice for his gruesome deeds. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and one count of aggravated murder. Consequently, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole and is currently incarcerated at the Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla, Oregon.
The case of Jeffrey Paul Cutlip is a haunting reminder of the darkness that can lurk within and the chilling impact one individual can have on a community. His life of crime, marked by years of evasion and violence, finally concluded with a confession, bringing closure to the families of his victims.
Sources
- "Sex offender pleads guilty in Portland killings" - KGW, 2013
- "Confessed killer sentenced" - The Bulletin, 2014
- "Accused Oregon serial killer Jeffrey Cutlip: authorities offer new details" - Oregonlive, 2012
- "Find woman dead" - Albany Democrat-Herald, 1975
- "Sexual predator Jeffrey Cutlip to plea to three Oregon homicides" - Oregonlive, 2013
- "Jeffrey Cutlip: Sex offender profile" - Oregonlive, 2013
- "Sex offender indicted in Multnomah County on 3 separate murders in the 1970s, 1990s" - Oregonlive, 2012
- "Man pleads guilty to 3 homicides in Oregon after confession" - The Columbian, 2013
- "Killer sentenced to life in prison" - Statesman Journal
- "Oregon Offender Search"
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Murder: Marlene Carlson
Jeffrey Cutlip murders Marlene Carlson in her apartment, attempting to smother her before strangling her with a telephone cord.
Second Murder: Julie Bennett
Cutlip drowns 15-year-old Julie Bennett in Johnson Creek after luring her to his cabin and assaulting her.
Sex Offender Conviction
Cutlip is convicted of sodomy and first-degree burglary after assaulting a woman, becoming a registered sex offender.
Third Murder: Nielene Doll
Cutlip strangles Nielene Doll after a struggle and attempts to sexually abuse her corpse, disposing of her body in a parking lot.
Confession to Murders
Cutlip confesses to murdering four women, leading to his arrest in Portland, Oregon.
Guilty Plea
Cutlip pleads guilty to two counts of murder and one count of aggravated murder for the deaths of Carlson, Bennett, and Doll.
Sentenced to Life
Jeffrey Cutlip is sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for his crimes.