Authorities Solved 42-Year-Old Murder Probe after Reopening 1983 Cold Case

Authorities have made an arrest in a 42-year-old murder case that happened in Josephine County. In February 2024, the Josephine County Sheriff's Office -- with assistance from the Oregon Department of Justice, Josephine County District Attorney's Office and Chico, California, Police Department -- reopened the investigation in the 1983 disappearance and murder of Teresa Peroni. At the time, Peroni was 27 years old and known to be in a relationship with Mark Sanfratello who was 29. On or around July 4, 1983, Peroni was last seen with Sanfratello walking into a wooded area while attending a party in the 1,000-block of Illinois River Road near Selma. After a short time, Peroni's family reported her missing and an investigation took place. The Sheriff's Office found the disappearance to be suspicious. However, the District Attorney's Office determined that there was not enough probable cause to move forward with the criminal investigation. In 1997, a human skull was located by individuals on a nearby property and a search took place with the use of a cadaver dog. No other human remains were located and the skull was sent for examination and DNA testing at the University of North Texas. Last year, the Sheriff's Office reopened the investigation by looking for any known individuals still alive that had some type of involvement with the cold case and knew details of the initial investigation. Additional DNA was collected and submitted to UNT, which was able to confirm the skull found in 1997 was that of Peroni. On June 27th of this year, DNA results and witness statements led to a Josephine County grand jury indicting Sanfratello on a charge of Murder. ...Read more

ODF Raising Fire Danger Level to "High" on Wednesday Due to Consistent Heat

The Oregon Department of Forestry is raising the fire danger level to "high" and the Industrial Fire Precaution Level (IFPL) to "2" in Josephine and Jackson counties on Wednesday. ODF officials said the increase is due to consistent hot temperatures and dry vegetation plus the threat of thunderstorms and lightning-caused fire potential. This change affects 1.8 million acres of state, private, county and BLM lands in the two-county region. The primary difference between current fire prevention restrictions and those that start Wednesday affects the public use of power-driven equipment such as chainsaws, mowers, weed-eaters and more. The use of power-driven equipment and other spark-emitting equipment such as wood splitters and generators will be prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily. This does not apply to mowing green lawns. All other fire prevention regulations will remain in effect including no outdoor debris burning, no fireworks on or within 1/8th of a mile of ODF-protected land, and no exploding targets, tracer ammunition or any bullet with a pyrotechnic charge in its base. Campfires are allowed only in designated campgrounds. Under IFPL 2 -- which is known as a "limited shutdown" -- certain operations may occur after 8 p.m. and up until 1 p.m. daily. For more information on current fire restrictions, please visit "swofire.com." ...Read more

RVCOG Issues "Creek Safety Watch" for Four Waterways in Jackson County Basin

The Natural Resources Department of the Rogue Valley Council of Governments has issued a Creek Safety Watch for some waterways in the Bear Creek Basin of Jackson County. According to RVCOG, routine, monthly water quality testing indicate that four creeks have exceeded state bacteria standards for contact recreation. Residents are urged to use caution when in contact with any waterway and especially to avoid ingestion which may cause illness and contact with open wounds which may cause infection. The waterways listed in the Watch include Walker Creek at Dead Indian Memorial Road in Ashland, Bear Creek at Suncrest Road in Talent to Fern Valley Road in Phoenix, Jackson Creek at Beall Lane to Dean Creek Road in Jacksonville/Central Point, and Griffin Creek at Interstate 5 in Central Point. Very young children should be fully supervised when playing in the water to avoid swallowing it. It is important to note that contact with any water body -- creeks, rivers, lakes or swimming pools -- carries some level of risk. ...Read more