INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

Portland Stabbing Victim’s Backpack And Wedding Ring Stolen, Thief Apprehended

By Jackie Villegas
Published on: 04:44 PST, Jun 2, 2017

UPDATE: The suspect in the theft of the Portland stabbing victim’s belongings has been apprehended.

An unidentified man took the backpack and wedding ring of Portland train attack victim Ricky Best, who was fatally stabbed by a white nationalist on the MAX train on May 26.

Portland police are asking for the public’s help in locating the man who took Best’s belongings shortly after the Portland stabbing attack. The man was caught on surveillance video with the victim’s backpack.

Ricky Best was one of the two heroes who were killed after they tried to protect two teenage female passengers from being verbally assaulted by a man on the light rail train. He was an Army veteran and a father of four.

According to the Portland Police Bureau, Best’s family realized that his backpack and wedding band were missing as they were making funeral arrangements this week. Police reviewed surveillance footage from the crime scene and determined that the items had been stolen.

CBS Portland affiliate KOIN-TV reported that the backpack contained personal items that are important to the Portland stabbing victim’s family. These include the contact information for people Ricky Best served in the Army with. Best’s family hopes to get that information so they can get in touch with those people.

Sgt. Pete Simpson, Portland police official spokesperson, said that the theft of the Portland stabbing victim’s personal belongings was “really an unconscionable act” and that it was an “awful scenario for [his] family.”

“They’ve suffered an immense loss and this is just one more layer of tragedy to their already awful experience.”

In surveillance video released by the Portland police, the suspect can be seen exiting the MAX train with Ricky Best’s black backpack in one hand and another backpack in the other. It remains unclear if this other bag was also stolen or belonged to the suspect.

The video shows that the suspect is a white male with a blonde mullet. He was wearing a black T-shirt with an image of Marilyn Monroe and an American flag. He also had on a black Jordan Brand baseball cap, black shorts, and black shoes.

The Portland train attack and the three heroes who risked their lives to protect two young women they didn’t know has caught the nation’s attention this past week. Best, who was 53, and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, who was 23, died while trying to shield two young women, 16-year-old Destinee Mangum and her 17-year-old friend, who was wearing a hijab, from an anti-Muslim tirade. A third stabbing victim, 21-year-old Micah Fletcher, suffered knife wounds to the neck but survived.

The suspect in the stabbing attack has been charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder, possession of a restricted weapon, and second-degree intimidation.

Sgt. Simpson said that the theft of the Portland stabbing victim’s personal items has angered those working on the train attack investigation.

“Everybody that’s learning about this in the police bureau wants to find this person, wants this property back for these family members who suffered an incredible loss.”

He said that they are hoping that the suspect will realize that what he took is priceless and return the items.

“We really kind of want to lean on the humanity if there is any there. Turn yourself in, bring the property back so this family can have it.”

On Friday, June 2, Portland police announced that the suspect in the theft of property from deceased Portland stabbing victim Ricky Best has been apprehended. In a Twitter update, the authorities commended Portland for its efforts and said that more details about the case will soon be released.

[Featured Image by Don Ryan/AP Images]

Share this article: Portland Stabbing Victim’s Backpack And Wedding Ring Stolen, Thief Apprehended
More from Inquisitr