An Oregon man, aged 52, has been taken into custody by local authorities in connection with the fatal stabbing of a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier. The incident occurred on September 21, around 11:30 a.m., at the Twin Creek Apartment complex in Clackamas, a suburb of Portland, as reported by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon their arrival, emergency medical personnel found Tristan Salvatore Thomas, the mail carrier, suffering from multiple stab wounds, including a severe cut across his neck. Despite immediate medical attention and being rushed to the hospital, Thomas succumbed to his injuries on October 3.
The suspect, Chad Michael Westover, was subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and tampering with physical evidence, according to the sheriff’s office.
The incident reportedly began earlier that day when Thomas had a disagreement with a neighbor, Christopher Stewart, over parking issues at the apartment complex. Stewart allegedly assaulted Thomas, who was then taken to the hospital. However, the authorities did not find sufficient probable cause to arrest Stewart at that time.
After being discharged from the hospital, Thomas returned to the complex where Stewart and Westover were attending a party hosted by Samantha S. Christensen. Following a call from Stewart’s teenage daughter, who claimed she was being followed by a “strange man” in the complex, the trio left the party to investigate. They identified the man as Thomas, who was allegedly armed with a butcher knife.
The subsequent altercation was partially recorded by neighbors and through Thomas’ 911 calls. In the call, Thomas expressed fear for his safety, claiming that Stewart, the teenager, Westover, and Christensen were outside his apartment. A video taken by a neighbor allegedly shows Westover saying, “If you guys are done filming, I’ll take care of it,” to which Christensen, Westover’s cousin, responds, “I’m done, take care of it, Chad.”
The affidavit states that Westover then attacked Thomas off-camera. During the assault, Thomas can be heard screaming for help and claiming he was being stabbed. Westover’s assault lasted nearly five minutes, after which he allegedly discarded the knife on Thomas and left the scene. Authorities maintain that Thomas did not harm Westover during the incident.
Christensen, who allegedly took Thomas’ phone from the scene and told 911 operators that everything was “fine,” turned herself into the Clackamas County Jail on charges of first-degree assault, tampering with physical evidence, hindering prosecution, and interference with making a report. She is currently held on a $250,000 bail. Westover, initially charged with assault, had his charges upgraded to second-degree murder following Thomas’ death and is being held without bond.
In the aftermath of the incident, Thomas’ family has set up a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and other costs. Thomas was described as a “pillar to his community,” known for his vibrant personality and dedication to his job as a mail carrier in the community he grew up in.