A man has been given a sentence of more than twenty years in prison for a deadly assault in Southeast Portland, as well as two other attacks that occurred last year.
Isaac Woodward, 45, has been given a 22-year sentence for causing the death of Traves Barisich and for attacking two additional individuals in late September.
In the early hours of September 28, Portland police received a call from a clerk at a Plaid Pantry on Southeast Division Street and Southeast 26th Avenue. The clerk reported witnessing a suspicious individual dragging an object that appeared to be a body across the street, with the intention of disposing it in a dumpster. The incident was promptly reported to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.
The man then left what was later confirmed by law enforcement to be a body, later identified as Barisich, lying on the ground in front of dumpsters with severe head trauma.
“After attempts at life-saving measures by first responders, he was determined to be deceased at the scene,” the DA’s office said in a release.
Another attack occurred later that evening at a New Seasons Market on 1954 SE Division St, fortunately, the victim survived. Woodward was found to be connected to both incidents under investigation.
On September 29th, the Portland Police Bureau swiftly responded to a reported stabbing incident in the vicinity of the Dolph Court Apartments at 2920 SW Dolph Court. The victim was taken to OHSU and provided a detailed account of the incident to the police. A woman was attacked while she was doing her laundry.
“The man stabbed the victim repeatedly on and around the neck and head until the attack was interrupted by another individual entering the laundry room, which allowed the victim time to escape and flag down a passing motorist who called 911,” the DA’s office said. “The 911 caller had observed the suspect exit the laundry room and knew him to be Isaac Woodward.”
The suspect was later found at a nearby gas station on Southwest Barbur Boulevard and was apprehended by the police. He was discovered carrying two knives and had recent scratch marks on the inside of his wrists. He eventually confessed to authorities that he assaulted the woman in the laundry room using a knife.
Woodward has admitted guilt to first-degree manslaughter in the tragic death of Barisich. Additionally, there are no details available regarding a second-degree attempted assault charge, but Woodward has pleaded guilty to a second-degree attempted murder charge. The judge handed down a sentence of 22 years for the charges.