It's insane he was even let out of prison. He should have been executed.
It's insane he was even let out of prison. He should have been executed.
Execution style, premeditated murder, clearly a sociopath. These people don't get better.
Grok summary of the crime:
The Murder of Nikki Thrasher (1994)
In November 1994, 19-year-old Nikki Thrasher, a foster teen living in the Roseburg area of Douglas County, Oregon, was killed in a premeditated, execution-style murder.
The perpetrator was Kyle Hedquist, then 17 (turning 18 shortly after), who feared Thrasher might report him for burglaries.
Key Details of the Crime
- On Thanksgiving 1994 (November 24), Hedquist and an accomplice stole items from his aunt's home and hid them in the apartment of the accomplice's girlfriend, where Thrasher was a roommate.
- Thrasher, unaware of the burglary, innocently asked Hedquist about the items, which he misinterpreted as a potential threat to expose him.
- A few days later, Hedquist tricked Thrasher into driving him to a remote rural logging road in the Melrose area near Roseburg.
- He forced her to walk up a dirt road at gunpoint, telling her he intended to kill her, while searching for a suitable spot.
- When Thrasher could no longer walk due to exhaustion, Hedquist shot her in the back of the head with a pistol.
- He then moved her body to a less visible location along the roadside and dumped it.
- Her body was discovered days later with a single bullet wound to the head.
Prosecutors described the act as a "calculated, cold-blooded, execution-style murder" to eliminate a potential witness, even though Thrasher had no actual knowledge of the crimes.
Conviction and Sentencing
- Hedquist pleaded guilty (or was convicted) in 1995 to aggravated murder.
- He also faced separate charges for armed robbery (including a Pizza Hut holdup) and kidnapping.
- At age 19, he received a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
Hedquist served approximately 27–28 years.
Later Developments
- In 2022, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown commuted his sentence, citing his youth at the time of the crime and evidence of rehabilitation.
- He was released without notifying Thrasher's family, sparking significant criticism from law enforcement, the Douglas County DA, and the victim's mother, Hollie Thrasher.
- Post-release, Hedquist moved to Salem, worked in criminal justice reform, and was appointed (and later reappointed amid controversy) to Salem's Community Police Review Board.
The case remains notable for its brutality and the ongoing debate over clemency and rehabilitation for violent offenders convicted as juveniles. Sources include reports from KOIN, Statesman Journal, and Douglas County DA statements opposing clemency.
The vote (In favor, one nigger and four women):
Salem City Council Vote on Kyle Hedquist's Reappointment (December 8, 2025)
The Salem City Council voted 5-4 to reappoint Kyle Hedquist to the Community Police Review Board (and also appointed him to the Civil Service Commission). This vote went against the recommendation of the Boards and Commissions Appointments Committee, which had suggested not reappointing him due to his criminal history.
Voted in Favor (Yes - 5):
- Council President Linda Nishioka
- Councilor Vanessa Nordyke (later reversed her stance and called for reconsideration due to backlash from public safety unions)
- Councilor Micki Varney
- Councilor Irvin Brown
- Councilor Mai Vang (proposed the amendment to reappoint Hedquist, citing his rehabilitation and unique perspective)
Voted Against (No - 4):
- Mayor Julie Hoy
- Councilor Shane Matthews
- Councilor Deanna Gwyn
- Councilor Paul Tigan
This breakdown is consistently reported across multiple local sources, including the Salem Reporter and Statesman Journal. Note that as of late December 2025, there were discussions about potentially reconsidering the appointment amid ongoing controversy from law enforcement unions and others, but the original vote stands as above.
Execution style, premeditated murder, clearly a sociopath.
These people don't get better.
Grok summary of the crime:
>### The Murder of Nikki Thrasher (1994)
>
In November 1994, 19-year-old **Nikki Thrasher**, a foster teen living in the Roseburg area of Douglas County, Oregon, was killed in a premeditated, execution-style murder.
>
The perpetrator was **Kyle Hedquist**, then 17 (turning 18 shortly after), who feared Thrasher might report him for burglaries.
>
#### Key Details of the Crime
- On Thanksgiving 1994 (November 24), Hedquist and an accomplice stole items from his aunt's home and hid them in the apartment of the accomplice's girlfriend, where Thrasher was a roommate.
- Thrasher, unaware of the burglary, innocently asked Hedquist about the items, which he misinterpreted as a potential threat to expose him.
- A few days later, Hedquist tricked Thrasher into driving him to a remote rural logging road in the Melrose area near Roseburg.
- He forced her to walk up a dirt road at gunpoint, telling her he intended to kill her, while searching for a suitable spot.
- When Thrasher could no longer walk due to exhaustion, Hedquist shot her in the back of the head with a pistol.
- He then moved her body to a less visible location along the roadside and dumped it.
- Her body was discovered days later with a single bullet wound to the head.
>
Prosecutors described the act as a "calculated, cold-blooded, execution-style murder" to eliminate a potential witness, even though Thrasher had no actual knowledge of the crimes.
>
#### Conviction and Sentencing
- Hedquist pleaded guilty (or was convicted) in 1995 to **aggravated murder**.
- He also faced separate charges for armed robbery (including a Pizza Hut holdup) and kidnapping.
- At age 19, he received a sentence of **life without the possibility of parole**.
>
Hedquist served approximately 27–28 years.
>
#### Later Developments
- In 2022, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown commuted his sentence, citing his youth at the time of the crime and evidence of rehabilitation.
- He was released without notifying Thrasher's family, sparking significant criticism from law enforcement, the Douglas County DA, and the victim's mother, Hollie Thrasher.
- Post-release, Hedquist moved to Salem, worked in criminal justice reform, and was appointed (and later reappointed amid controversy) to Salem's Community Police Review Board.
>
The case remains notable for its brutality and the ongoing debate over clemency and rehabilitation for violent offenders convicted as juveniles. Sources include reports from KOIN, Statesman Journal, and Douglas County DA statements opposing clemency.
The vote (In favor, one nigger and four women):
>### Salem City Council Vote on Kyle Hedquist's Reappointment (December 8, 2025)
>
The Salem City Council voted **5-4** to reappoint Kyle Hedquist to the Community Police Review Board (and also appointed him to the Civil Service Commission). This vote went against the recommendation of the Boards and Commissions Appointments Committee, which had suggested not reappointing him due to his criminal history.
>
#### Voted in Favor (Yes - 5):
- **Council President Linda Nishioka**
- **Councilor Vanessa Nordyke** (later reversed her stance and called for reconsideration due to backlash from public safety unions)
- **Councilor Micki Varney**
- **Councilor Irvin Brown**
- **Councilor Mai Vang** (proposed the amendment to reappoint Hedquist, citing his rehabilitation and unique perspective)
>
#### Voted Against (No - 4):
- **Mayor Julie Hoy**
- **Councilor Shane Matthews**
- **Councilor Deanna Gwyn**
- **Councilor Paul Tigan**
>
This breakdown is consistently reported across multiple local sources, including the Salem Reporter and Statesman Journal. Note that as of late December 2025, there were discussions about potentially reconsidering the appointment amid ongoing controversy from law enforcement unions and others, but the original vote stands as above.
https://www.cityofsalem.net/government/city-council-mayor/about-city-council/contact-a-city-councilor
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