PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The identity of the woman stabbed to death in a Portland park on Sunday morning was released by police Wednesday afternoon.
The Portland Police Bureau says the body of 51-year-old Jill S. Krahling was found near 210 Southwest Main Street shortly before 7:30 a.m. Officers had responded to the scene to do a welfare check — but she was dead by the time they reached her.
The medical examiner confirmed that the woman’s cause of death was stabbing.
PPB also clarified the scene occurred at Chapman Square Park — not Lownsdale Park, as they had originally stated.
Southwest Main Street was closed from 3rd to 4th Avenue during the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact Detective William Winters at William.Winters@police.portlandoregon.gov and 503-823-0466, or Detective Jason Koenig at Jason.Koenig@police.portlandoregon.gov and 503-823-0889.
As the fourth stabbing victim in Portland in less than two weeks, Krahling’s older brother said he hopes police can not only bring justice to whoever killed his younger sister, but restore safety for the many like her living on the streets.
“Probably my biggest worry is that people that are in a situation like my sister, and there have been several in your city that this has happened to, my biggest fear is that it gets treated like it won’t make a difference,” Bill Krahling said. “These are human beings that deserve some dignity and not to lose their life this way.”
Bill said his sister moved to Portland in the early 2000s and struggled off and on with substance use and homelessness, but described her as a creative, happy and independent soul.
“She was a very happy person, a creative soul, and rather adventurous,” he said. “She had her demons, but she was very much loved.”