Opinion: Who Bears the Blame for Edward Paul Dungan’s Death?
By Michael Weber - Mon. September 22nd, 2025 at 12:10pm - Updated Wed, September 24th, 2025 at 12:35pm
A Burden of ProofAs the case of Heather Lynn Sutherland unfolds, with her trial looming in Umatilla County, the central question, if it reaches that stage, may not be whether she smuggled methamphetamine into Two Rivers Correctional Institution, but who is truly responsible for her half-brother Edward Paul Dungan’s death on January 8, 2023. The state alleges Sutherland delivered the fatal dose on January 6, 2023, leading to charges of Second-Degree Manslaughter, Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine, and Supplying Contraband. Proving her guilt will be the first hurdle, but the real crux of this case lies in the deeper debate: Is the blame solely on the person who provided the drugs, or does it extend to the prison system that failed to intervene?
The Dungan family, led by Christy Running, has been vocal since his death, pointing fingers at the Oregon Department of Corrections. They claim that Dungan was held in a dry cell for 78/79 hours, 6/7 hours beyond the state’s 72-hour policy limit, while his condition deteriorated. (The 72-hour limit may be extended according to the policy.) Running contends the prison’s medical staff and officers neglected his needs, failing to transfer him to a hospital despite clear signs of distress. This neglect, they claim, allowed him to die, and they are pursuing a lawsuit to hold Two Rivers Correctional Institution and the DOC accountable. In a recent video, Running intensified her stance, stating, "Let me be clear: The Department of Corrections is grasping at straws attempting to publicly shift the blame to anyone else in my brother's wrongful death lawsuit." She further revealed, "What they're not telling you is 5 months ago I turned down a cash settlement offer regarding this lawsuit," posing a pointed question: "Would an innocent party attempt to pay off the family in a wrongful death lawsuit? Yes or no, the answer is simple." This suggests to her that the DOC’s actions may reflect guilt rather than oversight.
On the other side, the state’s charging instrument hinges on Sutherland’s alleged actions, framing her as the direct cause of Dungan’s overdose. Yet, even if prosecutors prove she brought the meth, the family’s accusations raise a compelling counterpoint: Could timely medical intervention have saved him? The family claims that a trooper’s investigation noted Dungan’s 78/79-hour dry cell stint, suggesting internal smuggling, but the State Medical Examiner’s pending report may reveal whether neglect amplified the drug’s lethality. This duality, Sutherland’s potential culpability versus the prison’s duty of care, could dominate the trial, forcing a jury to wrestle with a moral and legal gray area. Was it the drug that killed Dungan, or the system that let him die? The answer may redefine accountability in Oregon’s prisons.
Furthermore, the accusation against Sutherland regarding Dungan’s death also hinges on a timeline that warrants closer scrutiny. The state’s charging instrument specifies, “The defendant, on or about January 6, 2023,” for the alleged delivery of methamphetamine and contraband to Two Rivers Correctional Institution (TRCI), a phrasing that introduces some flexibility.
While it’s unclear why the state would use “on or about” rather than a precise date unless evidence is approximate, this wording suggests potential leeway in their case. It may also indicate the use of "boiler plate" language in the document, a disclaimer that may be used in all charging instruments. The same language is used for the date of Dungan's death. Dungan's date of death does not appear to be up for debate as the DOC stated the 8th, and so do subsequent obituaries.
Verifying Sutherland’s last visit to Dungan should be straightforward, as TRCI requires pre-scheduled visits, documented by sign-in records and extensive video surveillance from entry to exit, capturing multiple angles of the interaction. This footage could pin down the exact time and date.
The state asserts the delivery occurred on January 6, 2023, with Dungan’s death on January 8, 2023, implying a maximum window of 72 hours between the two events. However, this timeframe is likely shorter, as Sutherland couldn’t have visited at midnight on the 6th, and Dungan’s death didn’t occur precisely at 11:59 PM on the 8th. The Dungan family, led by Christy Running, claims he was held in a dry cell for 78-79 hours, a timeline that only aligns if he was placed there on January 5, 2023, predating the state’s alleged delivery date.
A source close to the investigation has told me that Sutherland visited Dungan on the 5th, and that the time of death for Dungan was at 8:58pm on the 8th. This would open the timeline for the claimed 78/79 hours in the dry cell. This discrepancy still raises questions about when the state alleges the meth was delivered, and the family's timeline of him being in the dry cell.
Regardless, the family’s argument that Edward Paul Dungan was denied adequate medical care, contributing to his death, remains compelling and undermines the state’s portrayal of Heather Lynn Sutherland as the sole responsible party.
While a motion was made on September 22nd, 2025 to have Sutherland's bail reduced from $500,000, the jail still currently lists that as her bail. (In Oregon it only takes 10% of the bail amount to get a release.)
Edward Paul Dungan was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla, Oregon, serving a 20-year sentence following a 2020 conviction. Court records indicate the Eugene man pleaded guilty to six charges, including attempted murder, after shooting Senior Trooper Gerald Ellis in the chest while in a stolen car south of Creswell. The trooper’s bulletproof vest likely saved his life, and despite being shot, Ellis pursued Dungan, who was captured a mile from the scene by other officers.
Sutherland is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Dungan family, led by Christy Running, has been vocal since his death, pointing fingers at the Oregon Department of Corrections. They claim that Dungan was held in a dry cell for 78/79 hours, 6/7 hours beyond the state’s 72-hour policy limit, while his condition deteriorated. (The 72-hour limit may be extended according to the policy.) Running contends the prison’s medical staff and officers neglected his needs, failing to transfer him to a hospital despite clear signs of distress. This neglect, they claim, allowed him to die, and they are pursuing a lawsuit to hold Two Rivers Correctional Institution and the DOC accountable. In a recent video, Running intensified her stance, stating, "Let me be clear: The Department of Corrections is grasping at straws attempting to publicly shift the blame to anyone else in my brother's wrongful death lawsuit." She further revealed, "What they're not telling you is 5 months ago I turned down a cash settlement offer regarding this lawsuit," posing a pointed question: "Would an innocent party attempt to pay off the family in a wrongful death lawsuit? Yes or no, the answer is simple." This suggests to her that the DOC’s actions may reflect guilt rather than oversight.
On the other side, the state’s charging instrument hinges on Sutherland’s alleged actions, framing her as the direct cause of Dungan’s overdose. Yet, even if prosecutors prove she brought the meth, the family’s accusations raise a compelling counterpoint: Could timely medical intervention have saved him? The family claims that a trooper’s investigation noted Dungan’s 78/79-hour dry cell stint, suggesting internal smuggling, but the State Medical Examiner’s pending report may reveal whether neglect amplified the drug’s lethality. This duality, Sutherland’s potential culpability versus the prison’s duty of care, could dominate the trial, forcing a jury to wrestle with a moral and legal gray area. Was it the drug that killed Dungan, or the system that let him die? The answer may redefine accountability in Oregon’s prisons.
Furthermore, the accusation against Sutherland regarding Dungan’s death also hinges on a timeline that warrants closer scrutiny. The state’s charging instrument specifies, “The defendant, on or about January 6, 2023,” for the alleged delivery of methamphetamine and contraband to Two Rivers Correctional Institution (TRCI), a phrasing that introduces some flexibility.
Verifying Sutherland’s last visit to Dungan should be straightforward, as TRCI requires pre-scheduled visits, documented by sign-in records and extensive video surveillance from entry to exit, capturing multiple angles of the interaction. This footage could pin down the exact time and date.
The state asserts the delivery occurred on January 6, 2023, with Dungan’s death on January 8, 2023, implying a maximum window of 72 hours between the two events. However, this timeframe is likely shorter, as Sutherland couldn’t have visited at midnight on the 6th, and Dungan’s death didn’t occur precisely at 11:59 PM on the 8th. The Dungan family, led by Christy Running, claims he was held in a dry cell for 78-79 hours, a timeline that only aligns if he was placed there on January 5, 2023, predating the state’s alleged delivery date.
A source close to the investigation has told me that Sutherland visited Dungan on the 5th, and that the time of death for Dungan was at 8:58pm on the 8th. This would open the timeline for the claimed 78/79 hours in the dry cell. This discrepancy still raises questions about when the state alleges the meth was delivered, and the family's timeline of him being in the dry cell.
Regardless, the family’s argument that Edward Paul Dungan was denied adequate medical care, contributing to his death, remains compelling and undermines the state’s portrayal of Heather Lynn Sutherland as the sole responsible party.
While a motion was made on September 22nd, 2025 to have Sutherland's bail reduced from $500,000, the jail still currently lists that as her bail. (In Oregon it only takes 10% of the bail amount to get a release.)
Edward Paul Dungan was incarcerated at Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla, Oregon, serving a 20-year sentence following a 2020 conviction. Court records indicate the Eugene man pleaded guilty to six charges, including attempted murder, after shooting Senior Trooper Gerald Ellis in the chest while in a stolen car south of Creswell. The trooper’s bulletproof vest likely saved his life, and despite being shot, Ellis pursued Dungan, who was captured a mile from the scene by other officers.
Sutherland is considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Michael Weber, known for his extensive coverage of crime news in Lane County, continues to provide valuable updates to the local community. He runs the largest crime watch group in Lane County, Lane County Mugshots Uncensored, which currently has over 88,300 members. Support for local journalism is essential, and donations can be made via Venmo to @Michael-Weber-379 (last four digits of phone number: 0825).
You can also follow me on X: https://x.com/MugshotMike541
Comments
Post a Comment