PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Police in the Portland area are now saying the death of a suburban beauty salon owner is being investigated as a homicide.
Details on the death of 54-year-old Debbie Lee Higbee Benton have been closely guarded by the Clackamas County Major Crimes Team since her body was found at her shop in Gladstone last Saturday.
The victim had been in a relationship with a Gladstone police sergeant who was on duty at the time and has been granted bereavement leave.
Police in nearby Milwaukie are leading the investigation. They had said only that it was a suspicious death before announcing Thursday it was a homicide investigation.
No other details were available.
