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Newly identified witnesses tell Portland Police that Cougar Burleigh, the Olympia man who died of a severe head wound on Oct. 14 after an incident on the Burnside Bridge, "was involved in a confrontation and subsequently fell to the ground."
The police disclosed late Tuesday afternoon that they had a major development in the case, and it offers the first clue that foul play may have played a role in Burleigh's death.
Police initially told family members of Burleigh, who was visiting friends in Portland the weekend of Oct. 10, that the 38-year-old man appeared to have fallen off a bike in some sort of accident. They declined to open a homicide investigation, saying no witnesses had come forward to suggest a crime had occurred. An autopsy revealed Burleigh's injuries were consistent with a fall, police said, adding that Burleigh's blood alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit.
But Burleigh's friends and family insisted the police do more. They said Burleigh hadn't been riding a bike that night. They told WW they believed he had been the victim of a crime, and they urged police to investigate Burleigh's death.
A state employee in Washington, Burleigh had no pants, no cellphone and no I.D. when police discovered him unconscious on the Burnside Bridge around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 12. He had been barhopping with a friend in Old Town but they'd gotten separated. Burleigh died two days later.
Portland Police have declined to release police reports and 9-1-1 calls about the incident, saying the investigation into Burleigh's death is ongoing.
They've now partnered with Crime Stoppers to offer a reward up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
Leave a Crime Stoppers tip online, text CRIMES (274637) and in the subject line put 823HELP, followed by the tip, or call (503) 823-HELP (4357) and leave the tip information. Tips can be left in English or Spanish.
WWeek 2015