Suspect in Ranger’s Death Is Charged
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TILLAMOOK, Ore. — A man accused of robbing two unarmed park rangers of their truck before marching them into dense forest and shooting them, killing one, was charged with murder Wednesday.
Rangers Danny Blumenthal and John “Jack” Kerwin were inspecting a bathroom Tuesday at Oswald West State Park when they encountered Larry G. Cole inside.
Cole, 52, demanded their keys and wallets, which they gave him, then forced the rangers to walk across the highway and up a steep, wooded path where he shot them both in the face, police say.
Blumenthal, 50, was killed. Kerwin, 51, lay motionless on the ground, feigning death. When the gunman left, he made his way to the road and flagged down a truck.
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