During the spring thaw of 1924, the bodies of three fur trappers were found floating in Lava Lake, 24 miles west of Bend. They had been brutally murdered in January while wintering in a remote cabin in the Cascades. A nine-year manhunt resulted in the capture of a likely suspect, Charles Kimzey. Due to a lack of evidence, Kimzey was not tried for the murders, which remain unsolved to this day. Mike Berry will delve into the events leading up to the murders, the ensuing investigation, and the identities of a few of the individuals who were considered suspects.

Mike Berry is a history enthusiast and a professional land surveyor. He moved to Bend in 1975 and graduated in 1977 from the Forest Technology program at Central Oregon Community College. Mike is a board member of the Deschutes County Historical Society and former president of the Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors as well as the Central Oregon Chapter of the Professional Land Surveyors of Oregon.

Enjoy 15% off your hotel stay on History Pub nights! Show your ticket at check-in.

These events are open to everyone interested in Pacific Northwest history, and beyond! Often co-sponsored by local or state historical and civic organizations, we bring you experts, scholars, first-person experiencers, historians and documentaries expounding on topics from indigenous history to the birth of Portland, early explorers to hop growing, and on and on! It's like being back in the classroom - except this time you get to settle into comfortable seats and enjoy a drink or two with dinner while you listen and learn.

This event is eligible for a History Pub Stamp