Bradley Cole of Milwaukie was killed May 15, 2024 in the parking lot of the Ashley Inn & Suites in Lincoln City while visiting with is wife, Debbie, to celebrate their wedding anniversary. By MAXINE BERNSTEIN/The Oregonian/OregonLive
The widow of a Milwaukie man beaten to death on an anniversary getaway to Lincoln City in 2024 has reached a seven-figure settlement with the hotel where his accused killer was staying.
Bradley Cole, 69, of Milwaukie died after a stranger attacked him as he was walking his dog outside the Ashley Inn & Suites.
His wife, Debra Cole, sued the hotel for $20 million, alleging it failed to take any action to protect its guests from Roland Evans-Freke or remove him from the premises. Evans-Freke had exhibited violent and mentally unstable behavior at the hotel and had a history of involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations, the lawsuit alleged.
He had been bouncing from hotel to hotel in stays financed by his father, who knew about his son’s actions, according to the suit.
Thomas D’Amore, the lawyer for Bradley Cole’s estate, declined to disclose the exact amount of the settlement but said it was substantial. Attorney Michael B. Hallinan, representing Ashley Inn & Suites, did not return a message seeking comment.
The Coles had traveled to the hotel to celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary on May 14, 2024. Shortly after they checked into a room, Bradley Cole went out a side door to walk their pit bull-lab rescue Callie on the hotel grounds, according to Debra Cole and the lawsuit. Evans-Freke was outside smoking a cigarette and approached Bradley Cole. He demanded that Cole give him the dog, according to the suit and filings in Lincoln County circuit court.
When Cole refused, Evans-Freke punched and kicked him for several minutes before leaving with the dog, but came back two more times to continue the attack, the lawsuit alleges.
Two other people wrestled Evans-Freke to the ground while Debra Cole called 911, she said. When police arrived, two officers struggled to handcuff Evans-Freke and repeatedly fired a stun gun to take him into custody, according to the suit. Bradley Cole lay on the ground, his right ear severed, and stopped breathing despite an officer’s cardiopulmonary resuscitation attempt, according to the suit and court records.
A Lincoln County judge recently found Evans-Freke fit for trial after he had been sent to the Oregon State Hospital for mental health treatment. A trial is set for next April.
Evans-Freke, now 32, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault and first-degree robbery charges.
A forensic psychiatrist told the court during an earlier mental health commitment hearing that Evans-Freke suffers from schizophrenia. Defense lawyer Elizabeth J.C. Baker said Evans-Freke has had a long-standing mental illness with no prior use of consistent medication.
The suit alleged the hotel and Evans-Freke’s father, Stephen Evans-Freke, were negligent and reckless in failing to prevent Evans-Freke’s “worsening violent outbursts” from harming others.
Roland Evans-Freke had been living at the Ashley Inn & Suites in Lincoln City since April 2024.
The lawsuit also named Evans-Freke’s father, a retired Wall Street investment banker, as a defendant. He lives in Ireland and has not responded to the suit, according to D’Amore.
- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court, law enforcement and criminal justice issues for The Oregonian/OregonLive and can be reached at [email protected]
