On January 5th, 2021 at 11:07am, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety received a 911 call from the Red Lion Inn in Grants Pass from an employee who had located an unconscious man on the floor of a hotel room and requested immediate assistance. Police Officers with the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety responded to the scene and initiated a death investigation.
Through the course of the investigation, the victim was identified as 42 year old Ryan Antone Dutra. Mr. Dutra is a resident of California and had rented the room at the hotel. He was found alone and sustained a gunshot wound.
Detectives secured the scene and applied for a search warrant for the room. No other suspects or persons were located in the area or had knowledge of the incident. It was not believed there was any additional threat to the public.
Due to the fact there was no suspect information at the scene, Detectives worked tirelessly throughout the day and night to develop leads. Using numerous technologies, to include video surveillance, cell phone technology, and license plate reader data, they were able to identify the suspects.
It was believed the suspects, identified as 41 year old Derek Ian Smith and his wife, 34 year old Tera Lindsey Smith, of California had already returned to California before the the suspects could be identified.
Aided by detectives from the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement Team, Grants Pass Department of Public Safety Detectives coordinated efforts with several California agencies to obtain information pertinent to the case. Assisting agencies included the California Highway Patrol, Sacramento Police Department, San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office. The Josephine County District Attorney’s Office was also consulted throughout the investigation.
On January 6th, at 10:30am, Derek and Tera Smith were located on Interstate 5 in Newton, California. Both suspects were taken into custody without incident by the California Highway Patrol and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office less than 24 hours after the initial report, and face charges of Murder I, Robbery I, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.
This remains an active investigation and further requests for specific information about the incident should be forwarded to the Josephine County District Attorney’s Office.
