Bend woman killed, husband charged with murder

Published 10:31 am Thursday, January 8, 2026

A Bend woman is dead and her husband has been charged with murder.

Stephen Mitchell, 45, was taken into custody and jailed Wednesday morning. He has been charged with murdering his wife, Christi Mitchell, 42, as well as abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and reckless burning.

Deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office found Christi Mitchell’s body at a property north of Bend near Bowery Lane and Grandview Drive. Police were called there about 3 a.m. Wednesday for a report of suspicious circumstances.

Police found Stephen Mitchell at the property, where he was interviewed and arrested. Stephen Mitchell was the victim’s husband, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jason Carr confirmed Thursday.

During his arraignment Thursday afternoon, lawyers mentioned Stephen Mitchell had packed his belonging and was ready to flee. They argued he would be an extreme danger to the community. Mitchell was not offered bail, and he is set to be indicted Jan. 15.

Police presence at the neighboring property Deschutes Memorial Gardens continued through Thursday.

In 2012, the man charged with murder threatened to shoot random people and allegedly opened fire on two people in northwest Bend, and for a time evaded police attempts to apprehend him. Hours later, Mitchell turned himself in to police and was charged with attempt to commit murder and unlawful use of a weapon, according to court records and The Bulletin’s previous reporting. None of the people he shot were injured.

At that time, Mitchell was living out of his car with no known fixed address and had no prior criminal history.

Editor’s note: Christi Mitchell was 42 years old. The Bulletin received incorrect information from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. The Bulletin regrets the error.