On May 15, 2024, 53-year-old Ted Foltz Tipton was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound near his pickup on Kodiak Lane, a remote road about 11 miles north of Bonanza in the Bly Mountain area of Oregon. A 911 call came in at 2:06 PM and deputies confirmed his identity; Tipton lived on a nearby road.

The Klamath County Major Crime Team was activated and investigators from state and local agencies processed the scene overnight, sending forensic evidence to the Oregon State Police Crime Lab. In the days after the discovery, detectives conducted interviews, area canvasses and followed community tips. Officials say there is a strong indication the person responsible was known to Tipton. No arrests had been announced as of late May 2024, and some individuals remain persons of interest while many others were cleared. Law enforcement urged the public to ignore social media accusations and to report any credible information.

Friends and community members gathered on May 25, 2024, to remember Tipton amid ongoing questions about what happened. If anyone knew Ted or witnessed activity on Kodiak Lane that afternoon, please come forward with what was seen or heard.