Early Friday morning, March 5th, Medford Police officers responded to Harvey’s Motel just before 8:00am, to a reports of a stabbing victim.
The victim had been discovered by staff, who found him in the bathtub of a motel room. Upon officers’ arrival, no suspect(s) were on scene. Medical personnel tended to the 73 year old victim’s wounds and he was ultimately transported to the hospital, where he remains as of this report.
The victim was found to have multiple stab wounds to the neck, as well as blunt force trauma injuries to the upper body. Detectives assumed the investigation and discovered that 30 year old Jake Compton, had rented the room where the victim was discovered. However, Compton could not be located.
After a thorough investigation, detectives determined that Compton had caused the injuries to the victim after an apparent dispute in the motel room on March 3rd. Compton was then aided by his girlfriend, 23 year old Cera Freier, and placed the victim in the bath tub, in hopes he would die from his injuries. Freier remained on scene to ensure the victim did not leave the bathroom.
At about 4:00pm, Tuesday, March 9th, officers located Jake Compton in the parking lot of the Econo Lodge. He was interviewed and lodged in jail for Attempted Murder and Assault 1st Degree. On March 11th, at about 7:45am officers located Cera Freier when she arrived back at Harvey’s motel. She was interviewed and lodged for an unrelated parole warrant.
On Thursday, March 11th, a Grand Jury indicted Jake Compton on multiple charges, and Freier was indicted for Attempted Murder, Attempted Assault 1st Degree, and Kidnapping 2nd Degree.
