News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Man burglarized while hospitalized; Happy Valley detective hot on the trail; tips sought

Posted: Jan. 27, 2011, 8:27 a.m.

Photo: Randolph Charles Baggett

Please refer to CCSO Case #11-284

Molly Fazio, 58, and her husband John Fazio, 64, of Happy Valley were concerned about John's pending surgical procedure, scheduled at a Portland hospital.

The Fazios became even more distressed after thieves had broken into the Fazio vehicle while it was parked at the hospital -- and used contents stolen from inside the vehicle to burglarize the Fazios' Happy Valley home.

On the evening of Jan. 3, 2011, Molly Fazio drove her Jeep Liberty into Portland to visit with her husband John -- a patient at Providence Hospital hospitalized for a surgical procedure.

Unbeknownst to Molly Fazio, while she was at her husband's bedside, thieves forced entry into her Jeep Liberty and stole a garage-door opener to the Fazio residence -- as well as personal papers that identified the address of the Fazios' Happy Valley home.

At 9:42 p.m., Molly Fazio returned to her home in Happy Valley -- and found her garage door standing open and the interior lights of her home turned on. She immediately called 911, and a Happy Valley Police Officer responded to secure the residence and investigate the newly reported burglary.

Investigators then began to work with the very competent security staff at Providence Hospital.

Happy Valley Detective Gil Millett soon determined the make and model of the suspect vehicle from surveillance video provided by Providence security.

This suspect vehicle information led Detective Millett to the vehicle's current female owner.

Detective Millett also learned that credit cards stolen from a wallet at the Fazio residence had been used to conduct purchases by a male suspect -- also captured on surveillance video -- within minutes of the Fazio residential burglary.

As a result, investigators have identified a person of interest believed responsible for this series of criminal events -- and are seeking your help to locate this person, who is known to possess a valid felony arrest warrant issued by another jurisdiction for a parole violation.

This fugitive, wanted for a parole violation, has an extensive criminal history and is identified as follows:

During this ongoing criminal investigation, Detective Millett learned the female owner of the suspect vehicle that was used during one or more of these reported crimes was actually at the hospital at the same time, visiting with a friend who was also hospitalized with a life-threatening illness.

Victims Molly and John Fazio will be available for media interviews later this afternoon ( Jan. 27). To set up an interview, contact Detective Jim Strovink, Public Information Officer, Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

CCSO Detective Gil Millett can also be reached for comment by contacting the Happy Valley Police Department.

TIPS SOUGHT

Anyone with information concerning this crime is encouraged to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office's confidential Tip Line -- by phone at 503-723-4949, or by using the online e-mail form. Please reference Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Case #11-284.

The public can also submit crime-tip text messages to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office from a cell phone. All users have to do is send a text message to CRIMES (274637 on your phone keypad) -- with the keyword CCSO as the first word in the message body. Important reminder: Please do not send emergency messages using the text-messaging system -- in case of an emergency, call 911.

Please reference Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Case #11-284.

[END]

Contact Info: Jim Strovink, Detective
Public Information Officer
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office