On the morning of June 5, 1976, Abram Benavidez, a 54-year-old member of the Native American/Indigenous community, was found dead in an alley behind homes in the 4300 block of North Montana Avenue in Portland. Police were called at about 8:10 a.m., and investigators determined Benavidez had been killed by a gunshot wound. The case was registered as Police Cold Case #76-42628.

Benavidez had been seen hours earlier at the Jubitz Truck Stop shortly before 3:00 a.m. Witnesses reported hearing people arguing in the same alley off North Montana Avenue around 3:30 a.m., which establishes a rough window for when the violence occurred. For the four years before his death he worked on a Texaco oil rig dry-docked on Swan Island.

No suspect has been publicly identified and no arrests have been announced; the Portland Police Bureau Cold Case Homicide Unit continues to list the killing as unresolved and Crime Stoppers has offered rewards for information. If anyone knew Abram, saw him that night, or has information about the argument in the alley, please come forward.