Lincoln County sheriff’s deputies make two arrests in Siletz homicide

On February 20, 2021, at approximately 6:15 am, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a call reporting an unconscious male on Cemetery Road near Government Hill Road in Siletz, Oregon.  Lincoln County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and located Richard Allen Mann, 36, of Logsden, deceased. Evidence at the scene suggested foul play. The Lincoln County Major crime team was activated, and Mann’s death was determined to be caused by gunfire.

On February 23rd, investigators from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office, Oregon State Police, Lincoln City Police Department, and Newport Police Department executed search warrants on two residences in the 500 block of Tolowa Court in Siletz.  A vehicle and evidence were seized as a result of the search warrants.

From February 24th until March 2nd, investigators continued gathering evidence and interviewing parties with knowledge of the incident.

On the evening of March 2nd, two arrests were made for the shooting death of Richard Mann.  Gavin Whitehawk Epperson, age 27 of Siletz, was arrested and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail for Murder in the Second Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the First Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Assault in the Third Degree.  Donovan Eugene Carey-Bennett, age 23 of Siletz, was arrested and lodged at the Lincoln County Jail for Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the Third Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Assault in the Third Degree.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in this investigation by the Oregon State Police Criminal Investigation Unit (CID), Oregon State Police Forensics, Toledo Police, Newport Police, Lincoln City Police and the Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office.