ST. HELENS, OR (KPTV) -
A murder investigation is under way at a home on South 15th Street and Cowlitz Street in St. Helens, where a woman was found stabbed to death just after 8 a.m. Sunday.
Police said a man with mental issues named Brent Redd Jr., 30, called 911 himself after he stabbed his caretaker, identified as 39-year-old Jennifer Lynn Warren.
Police said that Warren worked as a mental health service provider for Columbia Community Mental Health, CCMH and was on duty when she was meeting with Redd at his home.
According to the Columbia Community Mental Health's website, it is a nonprofit organization that provides mental health, addiction and developmental disability services to people in the county.
The executive director of CCMH said Warren had worked for the organization for 10 years and was a widely respected by her co-workers and clients.
On late Sunday night, the executive director of CCMH and the executive director of the Psychiatric Security Review Board issued a join statement about the incident.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Jennifer's family and friends after this terrible incident. We are working closely with law enforcement and will also jointly launch a swift and thorough independent investigation to ensure the safety of our mental health workers who are on the front lines every day," said Roland Migchielsen, Executive Director of Columbia Community Mental Health and Mary Claire Buckley, Executive Director of the Psychiatric Security Review Board.
Redd was taken into custody and was transported to Emanuel Hospital for treatment for unknown injuries.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 12, Redd Jr. has a criminal history dating back several years and include charges related to robbery, assault and theft.
Redd has been under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Psychiatric Security Review Board since April 2007 after pleading guilty except for insanity for attempted murder of a family member. He was sentenced to 20 years and began serving his term at the Oregon State Hospital where he remained until September 2010.
After that, he began receiving local community treatment through conditional release under the jurisdiction of the Psychiatric Security Review Board.
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