Bradley Cole of Milwaukie was killed in the parking lot of a Lincoln City motel while visiting with his wife, Debra, to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
A troubled man accused of beating a tourist to death last year outside a Lincoln City motel is back in the Lincoln County jail after having been treated for mental health issues at the Oregon State Hospital.
Roland Evans-Freke, 32, is charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault and robbery in the death of Bradley Cole, 69, of Milwaukie in the parking lot of the Ashley Inn the night of May 14, 2024.
Evans-Freke has a long history of mental illness, run-ins with police in Lincoln City and Newport and since his arrest has twice been sent under court order to the state hospital for treatment and evaluation.
Evans-Freke appeared in Lincoln County circuit court Wednesday, Dec. 10 and his attorney and the district attorney’s office agreed he was fit to proceed based on a Nov. 25 report from the hospital. Presiding Judge Sheryl Bachart set his next hearing for Jan. 20.
Cole and his wife, Debra, were spending the night at the Ashley Inn in Lincoln City after coming to the coast to celebrate their 37th anniversary. Cole was killed about 10 p.m. when he was repeatedly kicked, punched and kneed while resisting Evans-Freke’s attempts to take his dog, according to police and court reports.
Debra Cole is now suing Evans-Freke, his father Stephen Evans-Freke, Ashley Inn & Suites and Miracle K Management, which oversees the Lincoln City property, for $20 million in damages.
