Southern Oregon Woman Arrested for Murder, April 22

A 38-year old woman was indicted and is in custody pending an appearance in Josephine County Circuit Court related to a homicide investigation. The deceased’s remains were found recently at a remote campsite in the Sunny Valley-area but have not been positively identified.  Oregon State Police (OSP) Criminal Investigations Division detectives received information from Grants Pass Department of Public Safety on April 2, 2014, about a missing person who was believed to be deceased. Because the initial investigation indicated the incident occurred outside of Grants Pass, OSP detectives took over the investigation and the Josephine County Major Crime Team was activated on April 7.  The Josephine Major Crime Team (comprised of members from OSP, Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, and Josephine County District Attorney’s Office) worked jointly with OSP detectives from the Roseburg and Springfield offices. On April 9, a suspect identified as JACQUELYN KELLY NOVACK, age 38, from Murphy, was located in Eugene by OSP Springfield detectives and arrested on an unrelated OSP assault case warrant charging Probation Violation.  Subsequent investigation led investigators to a remote campsite April 9, 2014, in the Sunny Valley-area where they located human remains. Investigators believe the remains are that of a male in his mid-30s. Positive identification will be released once confirmed by the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s office and next of kin have been notified.  NOVACK was indicted April 18 by a Josephine County Grand Jury for Murder, Tampering with Evidence, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. She is lodged in the Josephine County Jail and an appearance on the charges is pending in Josephine County Circuit Court.  The investigation is pending.