Oregon Public Broadcasting

A suspect in an eastern Oregon triple homicide was captured Monday in Thurston County, Washington.

A week ago, a severed hand was found in a pond near Elgin. Since then, investigators have found three bodies in the area.

Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.

The Union County district attorney would not confirm what other body parts were found.

But he did say the bodies had been ‘tampered’ with after the crime. Remains have been sent to Portland for testing.

Tim Thompson is the district attorney.

Tim Thompson: “One of the things we suspect is that the hand was severed in order to prevent immediate identification. And that’s why we have to have the medical examiner go through the remains to determine whether they were separated by animal activity, or some more purposeful human activity.”

The victims have been identified as Shannon McKillop, Frank Scaramuzzi, and Jeremiah Johnston.

Investigators say the three were regularly seen with 42-year-old Gregory Cook.  He's been charged with murder and aggravated murder for the crimes.