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‘He Saved Her Life’: Oregon Husband Dies Trying To Save His Wife In Violent Home Invasion
A masked intruder broke into a couple's home in the early morning hours of Aug.13, killing Travis Juetten and stabbing his wife, Jamilyn, 19 times before another person in the home heard the commotion and called 911.
An Oregon husband died trying to save his wife’s life after an unknown assailant broke into the couple’s home in the middle of the night and began to attack them.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said authorities were called to the couple’s home around 3 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 13 and discovered 26-year-old Travis Richard Juetten dead, according to a statement. His wife, 24-year-old Jamilyn had been stabbed “multiple” times and was taken to the hospital with “serious injuries.”
The couple’s close friend Alain Leon told local station KOIN that a masked man had broken into the Juetten’s bedroom the day before the couple had planned to take a long-awaited trip to Hawaii. Travis tried to defend his wife, but lost his life in the process.
“He saved her life,” Leon said. “He protected her from the attacker.”
A house guest who had planned to watch the couple’s cat while they were away woke up and heard the noise and called 911.
Leon said Jamilyn was stabbed 19 times and will likely have a long road to recovery.
“She’s in the hospital. She was stabbed 19 times and her hand was, she’s really into pottery and I’m worried about her ability to do that,” he told the news outlet. “One of her hands, the muscle was severed. ... They are hoping to be able to reconnect it.”
The sheriff’s office said Jamilyn is in stable condition at a local hospital.
Myra Juetten, who identified herself as Travis’ mother on the sheriff’s office social media post about the slaying, said that her family was “devastated beyond belief.”
“He was the most amazing son you could have asked for with a kind, gentle spirit,” she wrote. “He in no way deserved this. As a mother, I am pleading to anyone that has any information to contact the tip line. Our hearts can’t hurt any more. Please help us find this monster.”
The family also released a statement to the media, pleading for help from the community.
“Our family is grieving the loss of our son, nephew, brother, and friend Travis Juetten, age 26, whose life was brutally cut short the morning of August 13th by an unknown assailant who murdered him inside his home,” the family wrote, according to The Statesman Journal. “His wife Jamilyn was seriously injured and is recovering in the hospital. Travis was a kind, gentle, and loving person who did not deserve to lose his life, and for reasons unknown to any of us. While we grieve Travis’s loss and wish for Jamilyn’s health, we continue to be concerned for the safety of our family, friends and neighbors. If you have any information that could be of assistance, please contact Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Your help is greatly appreciated.”
Leon, who served as the best man in the couple’s wedding, said Travis and Jamilyn met online and their romance had only continued to get stronger as the years went on.
“Travis and Jamilyn found each other and it’s really sad that story had to end,” he said.
Oxygen.com reached out to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office to request more details about the circumstances of the home invasion, but did not receive an immediate response.
Investigators are asking for anyone with information about the case to contact the Marion County Sheriff’s Office or submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers at www.crimstoppersoforegon.com.
