Melinda Beth Kotkins was 22 and a resident of Gresham, Oregon when she and her husband, Anthony Patrick Cooper, were killed on July 24, 2008. Their deaths were tied to the actions of James Charles Tooley, who investigators later identified as the primary suspect in the double homicide.

Tooley’s involvement reportedly grew out of his role in the drug trade; prosecutors described him as an aspiring drug kingpin whose dealings and a murder-for-hire scheme led him to target the couple. Evidence introduced at trial portrayed the killings as premeditated and intended to remove perceived threats to his illicit operations.

Tooley was arrested, tried, and found guilty on November 30, 2010; the jury’s verdict made him eligible for the death penalty. Melinda’s mother, Cindy Anderson, was among the family members who sought justice through the legal process. Does anyone have memories of Melinda or Anthony, or information that could shed more light on their lives before July 24, 2008?