Tracey Birkenfield, a 31-year-old Caucasian male described as transient, was found dead on the evening of July 3, 1987, in a grassy strip near Northwest 1st Avenue and Everett Street in Portland’s Old Town. An autopsy determined he died of multiple stab wounds. The scene and location suggest a sudden eruption of violence in a neighborhood he frequented.

Investigators and people who knew the lower Old Town street scene said Birkenfield struggled with heavy drug use, and detectives have long considered that a bad drug deal may have precipitated the fatal attack. No arrests have been announced and police have not publicly identified any suspect or suspects. The case remains open, with periodic appeals for tips and a cash reward offered for information leading to an arrest.

Who knew Tracey, saw activity in lower Old Town that night, or can help fill in who was present or what led to the violence?