Troy Dean Carney, 44, found murdered in his sleeping bag near the Bear Creek Greenway in Central Point, OR - 4 Sept 2008

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Troy Dean Carney was a 44 year old truck stop laborer looking for work assisting truckers at the Pilot Truck Stop on Biddle Road near Central Point in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon. Troy was last seen leaving the truck stop around 6:00 pm on Labor Day 9/1/2008. When he was discovered in his sleeping bag near the Bear Creek Greenway, he was still wearing the same clothing he had last been seen wearing. Troy's mom tried calling him and did not get any response from the early morning of 9/2/2008 until he was discovered on 9/4/2008.
Troy's camp on the greenway was set fire in the very early morning of 9/14/2008.

Edited to add Media link: Troy Carney was shot and killed while asleep in his sleeping bag near Central Point, Oregon in 2008 and his #ColdCase remains UNSOLVED!
 

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Troy Dean Carney was a 44 year old truck stop laborer looking for work assisting truckers at the Pilot Truck Stop on Biddle Road near Central Point in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon. Troy was last seen leaving the truck stop around 6:00 pm on Labor Day 9/1/2008. When he was discovered in his sleeping bag near the Bear Creek Greenway, he was still wearing the same clothing he had last been seen wearing. Troy's mom tried calling him and did not get any response from the early morning of 9/2/2008 until he was discovered on 9/4/2008.
Troy's camp on the greenway was set fire in the very early morning of 9/14/2008.
Hi. Just refreshed and saw this.

So he was found and is not missing it seems. What did they rule his death/cause? Is it considered a homicide by LE?

And welcome by the way.
 
Troy Dean Carney was a 44 year old truck stop laborer looking for work assisting truckers at the Pilot Truck Stop on Biddle Road near Central Point in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon. Troy was last seen leaving the truck stop around 6:00 pm on Labor Day 9/1/2008. When he was discovered in his sleeping bag near the Bear Creek Greenway, he was still wearing the same clothing he had last been seen wearing. Troy's mom tried calling him and did not get any response from the early morning of 9/2/2008 until he was discovered on 9/4/2008.
Troy's camp on the greenway was set fire in the very early morning of 9/14/2008.
I have posted about the possible connections between Troy & Dave's case here.

ALL STATEMENTS ARE AFAIK AT THIS POINT IN TIME BASED ON THE INFORMATION I HAVE HAD AVAILABLE

Post in thread 'David "Dave" Edwin Lewis murder & arson 9/4/2008 13 miles east of Ashland Oregon UNSOLVED'
David "Dave" Edwin Lewis murder & arson 9/4/2008 13 miles east of Ashland Oregon UNSOLVED

IMO & JMO & IMOO & IME
 
I have to tell you that this gives me a sense of something may have been wrong... He wanted to move on elsewhere and needed money to do so. If there was nothing wrong with the firewood job or just wrong in general, why did mom offer the bus ticket money and wire it right away? And she also called regularly, daily. Maybe this was her norm, I wouldn't know, but I can't help but wonder about what seems to be worry or urgency. It is just something I feel I sense in reading what you posted here. I of course could be wrong. Mom also thinks it was someone he'd just met... I guess it just all makes me think she maybe knew of some trouble with someone or knows more but doesn't feel at liberty to share it if she's been asked not to. Am I way off base? You two know these cases from back when, I know nothing of them.
 
I have to tell you that this gives me a sense of something may have been wrong... He wanted to move on elsewhere and needed money to do so. If there was nothing wrong with the firewood job or just wrong in general, why did mom offer the bus ticket money and wire it right away? And she also called regularly, daily. Maybe this was her norm, I wouldn't know, but I can't help but wonder about what seems to be worry or urgency. It is just something I feel I sense in reading what you posted here. I of course could be wrong. Mom also thinks it was someone he'd just met... I guess it just all makes me think she maybe knew of some trouble with someone or knows more but doesn't feel at liberty to share it if she's been asked not to. Am I way off base? You two know these cases from back when, I know nothing of them.
From what I understand it was the norm for them to speak daily as he traveled around the country. I guess he kept in close contact with his grandmother as well. He sounded like a good guy.

He worked as a laborer at truck stops helping truckers load or unload and sometimes rode along with someone to the next stop.

Troy's mom said he used to live in the Rogue Valley about 10 years before and was familiar with the area.

He had stayed with a friend GG for a few days when he first came to the valley but was uncomfortable there for some reason, LW seems to think another person showed up there and it had been sketchy.

My understanding is Troy left GG's suddenly, maybe without saying anything. This friend tried to call Troy for a few days until he answered.
 
From what I understand it was the norm for them to speak daily as he traveled around the country. I guess he kept in close contact with his grandmother as well. He sounded like a good guy.

He worked as a laborer at truck stops helping truckers load or unload and sometimes rode along with someone to the next stop.

Troy's mom said he used to live in the Rogue Valley about 10 years before and was familiar with the area.

He had stayed with a friend GG for a few days when he first came to the valley but was uncomfortable there for some reason, LW seems to think another person showed up there and it had been sketchy.

My understanding is Troy left GG's suddenly, maybe without saying anything. This friend tried to call Troy for a few days until he answered.
He does sound like a good guy with family who cared and that he was close to. That's one thing I've already taken from this.

I'd worry even if he's 44 as a mom or grandma about him sleeping in homeless areas or even outside unprotected, etc. I know I'd also prefer he didn't do that. I have a 42 year old daughter so I'm not just talking how I'd worry. The care and regular contact make sense, I just felt like maybe they also had reason to be concerned beyond that. And maybe even has her own thoughts of "who" in this case.

I'm new to it of course as you know so I don't have the years of discussing it and all known so just first impression is what I'm giving on that.

Was he ever married, kids anything like that? I know the other man had kids it said. He also had a home/cabin, this one didn't I take it. Did he always kind of just do the nomad thing? That's not a knock at him at all, I'm just trying to get a picture and a picture too of the difference in these two victims that did not appear to know each other from anything I've seen so far here.

The time frame and fires, murders and nearness right off did lead me to lean towards they definitely could be connected but now I'm looking at these men seem quite different no/ One with money, one with none, didn't know each other. If for instance Dave's relative is responsible what reason would he have for killing this guy in his sleeping bag that he likely didn't know and had no reason to?

I don't know OR, I'm midwest, never been but do know the approximate distance since it has been talked of of both places but when you talk of the Pilot gas station and such and roads, I can't picture it as you probably can.

You said two different guns right?

Which one perp can have, that happened in Murdaugh although I believe Alex M planned that to make it look as if there were two killers present together. So that's definitely possible here, that two different ones were purposely used.

Just trying to get a feel for everyone and ask questions that pop into my head on reading the info where you've probably done that and know these cases for so many years, I may seem like a bother lol.

On your friend's case, I can already see enough from what you've shared to tilt a bit in a direction even for me who doesn't know squat about it. This one now not so sure as I learn more. Or as sure of a connection. BUT that will go back and forth until I get a feel and I can believe either right now. Connected or not.

On very first glimpse of these cases, I didn't know anything and thought same day, fires etc. then learned about 30 miles apart and I was thinking someone on a murder spree and arson kick with it. Like random victims maybe for the perp or just anyone he knew he was mad at. But then once you put up more info, it isn't some stranger that killed both. And I didn't realize until tonight that the fire in this one was about 14 days later.

I have to say with your friend I already have a tilt to it is personal with negative emotions. Anger, revenge, hatred, a person in their way, did them wrong. It said he had smoke in his lungs so he was shot and then a fire started... Maybe a motive for both things?

This one though, it could be totally impersonal. As far as it sounds to me thus far, he was sleeping when shot and killed and perhaps never even was awake nor aware he was shot. Was it one shot while sleeping and dead? No robbery. No immediate fire. Someone may have wanted him dead that knew him but seems to not have much emotion in it. Like even anger.
As you got these cases up, and then info, I didn't know much now have read the stuff so far in both and where I thought they might be related, I now think they vary quite a bit. I'll probably flip on that again though as I learn more.
 
Yes, she doesn't post anything anymore but she's still available through dm and she keeps her eye on the threads, especially if she has a heads up. She's still hoping there will be answers. I am in touch with her through email.
I think I remember her avatar was a fish. Next time you talk to her, please send her my best!
 
From what I understand it was the norm for them to speak daily as he traveled around the country. I guess he kept in close contact with his grandmother as well. He sounded like a good guy.

He worked as a laborer at truck stops helping truckers load or unload and sometimes rode along with someone to the next stop.

Troy's mom said he used to live in the Rogue Valley about 10 years before and was familiar with the area.

He had stayed with a friend GG for a few days when he first came to the valley but was uncomfortable there for some reason, LW seems to think another person showed up there and it had been sketchy.

My understanding is Troy left GG's suddenly, maybe without saying anything. This friend tried to call Troy for a few days until he answered.
GBear, it’s not too uncommon for people to camp out in this area, especially men doing side jobs.. There are some of the most beautiful outdoor areas in the world up here. However, I don’t know how much they’re doing it these days, because the world getting a lot darker, but back in the time when these men were killed, it wasn’t uncommon.
 
Murder in the Rain Podcast featured Troy's case on one of their True Crime Tuesday episodes

Over the years, very little has been written or shared about Troy's case. Most of the information about Troy that I am aware of comes from my personal communication with Troy's mom, LW.


Edited to add the correct link!!
 
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Troy Dean Carney
8/26/1964-9/2/2008

Grandmother: Nellie Ann Carney
Grandfather: Victor B Carney

Troy Dean Carney age 44 passed away on
September 2, 2008.
He was born in Lewiston, Maine on August 26, 1964 the first child of Linda Carney Wood. Troy attended local schools. He also lived in Michigan and went into sports and was on the Tract team, Wrestling team and Karate. He also loved mountain biking, and camping out.
In his leisure time he loved to work out and enjoyed singing kerokie, fishing, watching football and was very interested in bodybuilding.
Troy loved to travel. He traveled from to east coast to the west coast working his way, loading and unloading tractor trailers . Troy had told his mother he had been in every city and state in the United States except Alaska. He has also told his mother that “ he has lived his life; cause he has seen and been more places then most anyone. “.
His mom Linda chose to share to following story about Troy.
Troy told me this not long ago. He was in a grocery store to pickup a couple things. There was an elderly lady in front of him paying for her groceries. She handed the cashier money and was told she didn’t have enough. She didn’t have anymore money so she began taken things out of her cart. Troy said; “ I saw what she was doing , so I put the food back in her cart and gave the cashier the money “. I don’t know how much money it was, but he said there were other other people there watching what was going on, and not one of them offered to help..
Troy made mistakes, but deep down he was a good guy..
These are the things I will remember most about Troy.
he leaves behind one brother Tracy L Carney and grandmother Nellie A Carney and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Troy’s funeral will take place at St. Marks Catholic cemetery in Sheridan, Maine. On October 25, 2008. Troy’s stone will say,
I TRAVEL NOT TO GO ANYWHERE, BUT TO GO

This was Troy Dean Carney.
 

Troy Dean Carney
8/26/1964-9/2/2008

Grandmother: Nellie Ann Carney
Grandfather: Victor B Carney

Troy Dean Carney age 44 passed away on
September 2, 2008.
He was born in Lewiston, Maine on August 26, 1964 the first child of Linda Carney Wood. Troy attended local schools. He also lived in Michigan and went into sports and was on the Tract team, Wrestling team and Karate. He also loved mountain biking, and camping out.
In his leisure time he loved to work out and enjoyed singing kerokie, fishing, watching football and was very interested in bodybuilding.
Troy loved to travel. He traveled from to east coast to the west coast working his way, loading and unloading tractor trailers . Troy had told his mother he had been in every city and state in the United States except Alaska. He has also told his mother that “ he has lived his life; cause he has seen and been more places then most anyone. “.
His mom Linda chose to share to following story about Troy.
Troy told me this not long ago. He was in a grocery store to pickup a couple things. There was an elderly lady in front of him paying for her groceries. She handed the cashier money and was told she didn’t have enough. She didn’t have anymore money so she began taken things out of her cart. Troy said; “ I saw what she was doing , so I put the food back in her cart and gave the cashier the money “. I don’t know how much money it was, but he said there were other other people there watching what was going on, and not one of them offered to help..
Troy made mistakes, but deep down he was a good guy..
These are the things I will remember most about Troy.
he leaves behind one brother Tracy L Carney and grandmother Nellie A Carney and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Troy’s funeral will take place at St. Marks Catholic cemetery in Sheridan, Maine. On October 25, 2008. Troy’s stone will say,
I TRAVEL NOT TO GO ANYWHERE, BUT TO GO

This was Troy Dean Carney.
I’m glad he got to see the country. Now it’s time that we see Justice in his case!
 

Here is a copy/paste of some very early articles-- some links may be broken unfortunately as the two local newspapers have shutdown since the original articles were published.​

Troy Dean Carney


Young Man Found Dead in Homeless Camp

From Help Find The Missing

A stark black and yellow mask from the Marvel Comics character Wolverine might give Jackson County Sheriff's Department detectives a look into the final hours of a man who was murdered along the Bear Creek Greenway outside Central Point in early September.

Investigators discovered the distinctive mask at a campsite near where Troy Dean Carney, 44, was found dead in a sleeping bag Sept. 4, hidden in brush between the Central Point freeway interchange and Table Rock Road.

Police identify victim of apparent greenway homicideGreenway body prompts investigation Four camps were tucked in the blackberry brambles not far from the Pilot truck stop — Carney's and three others, Jackson County Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Colin ***an said.

Investigators tracked down a couple who had left one of the camps a few days before the murder likely occurred on Sept. 1 and a man who moved on from one of the others in the weeks following the crime, ***an said. But at the final abandoned camp, they found only a small dome tent and a scattering of debris and personal items, including the Wolverine mask, which was propped up as if on display.

"It might not have anything to do with the murder, but we hope it can help us narrow down who had camped there," ***an said.

Investigators want to talk to whoever stayed there to find out if they had seen Carney or anyone with him in the days or hours before he was killed.

Carney had lived in the Rogue Valley 10 years ago, but in the past decade had traveled the country with truckers. He worked as a "lumper," loading and unloading trucks and riding along with the driver, ***an said.

This summer, Carney rode into the Willamette Valley from Idaho. He decided to visit old friends in the Medford area and stayed with them for a while, but his presence stressed their relationship, they told investigators. Carney planned to camp near the Central Point truck stop until he could find a ride to a larger transportation hub where he could resume his nomadic lifestyle, ***an said.

Carney ate at the Pilot and used the phones there. In the parking lot, he offered to do odd jobs, such as polishing chrome, for truckers to earn money. He was last seen in surveillance photos at the business on the evening of Sept. 1, wearing camouflage cargo shorts and a dark T-shirt, the same clothes he was found dead in, ***an said.

"He was pretty friendly," ***an said. "We're hoping somebody saw him Sept. 1 or later."

Carney's friends thought he had left the area until his mother in Florida called to ask where he was, as she hadn't heard from him and he usually called regularly. His friends called police to see if the man found dead near the Greenway could be Carney. It was.

In the days following the discovery, many of the homeless men moved their camps out of the immediate area because they were afraid, ***an said.

Around 1 a.m. on Sept. 14, however, someone returned to set a fire in the midst of the now-empty campsites. Distance and natural barriers kept fire crews from the blaze for 24 minutes, so by the time they arrived to douse the flames, no one was around.

Still, investigators say the fire was intentionally set and they suspect it could have been started to cover up evidence and keep detectives away.

They would like to talk to anyone who has information on the fire. They also want information on the mask and who might have owned it. They also would like to talk to anyone else who Carney might have associated with around the time of his death.

From The Mail Tribune:

Police believe the murders of an Ashland man living on Dead Indian Road and a transient camping out along the Bear Creek Greenway last September might be linked.

A little over a year has passed since David E. Lewis, 46, was found inside his burnt home in the 12800 block of Dead Indian Memorial Road and Troy Dean Carney, 44, was discovered at his campsite, the victim of a gunshot wound.

Nine days after Carney was found a fire swept though the area where he had been camping. Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set by someone trying to destroy the scene of the crime.

"We find two men killed by homicidal violence on the same day and both scenes were covered by fire," Jackson County Sheriff's Detective Sgt. Colin ***an said. "We cannot ignore the commonality here."

In addition, sheriff's investigators believe they have discovered a piece of evidence linking both crimes, but they decline to specify what it is.

"We need to keep that to ourselves so we know good tips from bogus ones," ***an said. "If someone gives us that information we know we are onto something."

However, investigators have yet to find a link between to the victims.

Despite spending hundreds of man hours pursuing leads in the cases, detectives have yet to prove Carney and Lewis knew each other.

"We are fairly certain these two never spoke to each other when they were alive," ***an said.

By releasing the information that the crimes might be linked, detectives are hoping someone might contract the department with information connecting the victims.

"Maybe we are overlooking something," ***an said.

The men led different lifestyles.

Lewis had deep roots in the local community. He was a longtime area resident, known for protecting the land and helping neighbors., according to his family.

Investigators suspect someone ventured up the long driveway to his secluded mountaintop cabin, then had come inside and killed him. Detectives aren't disclosing how Lewis died. They also note that the total destruction of the cabin has eliminated much evidence.

Investigators haven't turned up a motive or suspect in the death of Carney, who was also found dead Sept. 4. Carney's body was found in a sleeping bag off a path that leads away from the Bear Creek Greenway between the Central Point freeway interchange and Table Rock Road. He had been shot at close range a few days earlier.

Carney had lived in the Rogue Valley a decade ago and had recently returned. In the interim he had worked as a "lumper," loading and unloading trucks and riding along with drivers.

"They lived different lives, but we cannot ignore the similarities in their deaths," ***an said. "These have been long, exhausting investigations."

The sheriff's department is asking the public's assistance in providing information which links the victims. Tips can be left anonymously at the sheriff's at 774-8333.
 

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