Vernon Richard Anton, 57, was found beaten to death in his room at 4760 NE Prescott in Portland on the morning of December 16, 1977, at about 10:30 a.m. He had last been seen alive on December 13, leaving investigators unable to pinpoint the exact time of the assault. Signs at the scene indicated forced entry into the residence, suggesting the attack followed an intrusion rather than a known dispute.

Anton rented a room in the house and had worked as a musician and bartender, though he was unemployed at the time. He was known to frequent several neighborhood taverns—the Backstabber, the 5 Spot, the Kort Haus, the Nightcap, and the Glass House—but interviews with acquaintances reportedly did not reveal enemies or prior threats. No arrests have been reported and no suspect has been publicly identified, leaving the case unsolved. His remains were buried at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.

Did anyone who knew Vernon or saw him in the days before December 13 have information that could help solve what happened?