Credit: Washington County Sheriff's office
In November 1988, 30-year-old Deborah Lee Atrops was reported missing by her husband, Robert Elmer Atrops, then 34 years old. Although still married, the two had separated in June 1988, and Robert Atrops was living in the couple's home on SW Conzelmann Road in Sherwood. Deborah resided in an apartment in Salem with the couple's adopted daughter, then eight months old.
While her parents were at work, the child was cared for by a babysitter in Newberg. During the evening of Nov. 29, 1988, Robert picked their child up from the babysitter while Deborah was at a hair appointment in Tigard. She was expected to be at Roberts' home to pick up her daughter between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Robert later told investigators that Deborah never arrived at his house. He called Deborah's acquaintances and family and asked about her whereabouts. Robert later called the Tigard Police Department to make a missing person report when he could not locate Deborah.
On the morning of Nov. 30, 1988, the Washington County (Oregon) Sheriff's office took an official missing person report regarding Deborah’s disappearance. Robert said he still had not heard from Deborah, and she never arrived to pick up their daughter. As part of the missing person investigation, her car was entered into law enforcement databases as a vehicle involved in a missing person case.
On Dec. 1, 1988, Beaverton Police responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint at the dead end of SW Murray Rd near SW Scholls Ferry Road in Beaverton. A city public works employee reported a suspicious abandoned car parked at the location with the keys on the driver's seat. The car was described as a 1988 black Honda Accord two-door. Beaverton Officers arrived and observed the car parked with its driver's window down and without license plates. Officers determined the car belonged to Deborah. Witnesses observed the vehicle parked there since the early morning on Nov. 30, 1988.
Investigators from the Washington County Sheriff's Office were advised of the discovery and responded to the car's location. Deborah's body was found inside the trunk of the car. Based on the positioning of her body, it appeared Deborah had been placed in the trunk after her death.
On Dec. 2, 1988, the autopsy revealed that Deborah had been physically assaulted and strangled to death. The cause of death was deemed to be a homicide.
Investigators expended a significant amount of time and effort in their investigation; however, the murder of Deborah remained unsolved, and eventually, the case turned cold.
In 2020, the Washington County District Attorney's Office secured a grant named "Prosecuting Cold Cases Using DNA," which allowed them to launch their Cold Case Unit. The Cold Case Unit focuses on investigating and prosecuting violent crime cold cases involving identified DNA associated with a possible suspect. The U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance funds the grant.
In May 2021, the Washington County District Attorney's Office Cold Case Unit partnered with the Washington County Sheriff's Office to continue the investigation into the death of Mrs. Atrops.
Over the next year and a half, detectives and investigators reinterviewed multiple witnesses and had forensic evidence reexamined. On Feb. 28, 2023, details of the case were presented to a Washington County grand jury. After hearing all the evidence, the grand jury indicted Robert for one count of murder in the second degree.
On the morning of March 2, 2023, a search warrant was served at Robert's Newburg home, and he was taken into custody. Robert was arrested without incident and lodged in the Washington County Jail.
Republished courtesy of Washington County Sheriff's Office.