Three Indicted in Murder of Portland Mother

Three people have been indicted in connection with the September of a young mother from Portland, Columbia County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson announced Thursday. All three are charged with aggravated murder and other crimes.

Apache Hightower, 24, was found murdered in a rural part of Columbia County last month. The sheriff's office put out a notice labeling Jesse Lane - who her family has said is her ex-boyfriend - a person of interest. He was called armed and dangerous.

He was found in September 29th in California where he was arrested on a parole violation. Lane was then returned to Oregon.

Lane is charged with murder, kidnapping, hindering prosecution, and felon in possession of a firearm.

Also indicted were Stephanie Toney, 20, and Charles Vernon, 29 - both of St. Helens. They are charged with murder, kidnapping, and hindering prosecution.

Sheriff Dickerson praised his deputies.

"This incident is so sad for the needless loss of life and the tremendous sorrow for Ms. Hightower's family," said Dickerson, "but I am extremely proud of the way investigators doggedly stayed on top of this case to produce this relatively quick result."

Dickerson also thanked the numerous law enforcement agencies he said made the resolution of the case possible.

He singled out: the Oregon Medical Examiner's Office, the Oregon State Police Forensics Laboratory, the Portland Police Bureau, the United State's Marshal's fugitive task force, the FBI, the Jackson County District Attorney's Office, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, the Oregon State Parole Board, the Columbia County Department of Community Justice, the Santa Barbara Police Department ,and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

"We had a lot of help that was crucial to the success of this investigation," the sheriff said, "and we had a small number of dedicated members of the Major Crimes Team working daily with the Columbia County District Attorney's Office to build this case."

Photos Columbia County Sheriff's Office