Suspicious Death at Motel in The Dalles Sparks Investigation
Photo Credit: Tom Peterson
By Cole Goodwin
The Dalles, OR, September 5, 2023 - The Dalles Police Department is currently investigating the suspicious death of 33-year-old Portland woman, Samantha "Sammie" Bergren, who was found deceased at the Super 8 Motel at 609 Cherry Heights On September 3, 2023.
Hotel staff discovered a body on Sunday, September 3rd at 11:55 a.m. Officers were called to the Motel 8 after receiving reports of a deceased individual. Upon arrival, patrol officers found the circumstances surrounding the death to be suspicious, prompting them to bring detectives into the case.
Detectives determined a 32-year-old male, named Zachary Krohnke, a resident of Central Oregon, had rented the room in which the deceased had been found.
Krohnke has become a person of interest. He was taken into custody on charges unrelated to the death by Deschutes County Sheriff’s Deputies on September 3rd. In Deschutes County, Krohnke has been charged with disorderly conduct, coercion, and unlawful use of a weapon and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon.
Both The Dalles Police Department and Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department are working in conjunction with the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office to unravel the circumstances surrounding the tragic event. The multifaceted investigation into the cause of death is currently in progress.
Family of the deceased told CCCNews that this was an incredibly hard time and that they would appreciate it if their privacy was respected while they grieved the loss of their loved one.
The family described Sammie as “a good person with a heart of gold” who loved animals, especially dogs and horses and was involved in helping to rescue animals in need.
“She was the light in every room,” they said. They also shared that she had been very active in sports and cheerleading throughout high school.
The family hopes for justice for their lost loved one.
As the family and the community await further details, any forthcoming information regarding the case will be released by the District Attorney’s Office.
In the meantime, The Dalles Police and the Wasco County District Attorney's Office have expressed their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, extending their heartfelt sympathy during this trying time.
Staff at the Super 8 Motel in The Dalles were shaken by the incident. While they were not able to discuss the details of the case they said they were sending their hearts and prayers to the family of the deceased.
“I have never experienced something like this since I’ve worked here,” said Lindsay Johnson, senior desk clerk. “I've been here 10 years total. This is the first time I’ve ever had anything like this. I feel for the family. You never heal after losing a loved one. I hope they get closure. All of us at Super 8 are sending thoughts and love to the family.”
