La Pine man had ‘homicidal thoughts’ before release. Then he told police he killed a woman.

Published 5:45 am Friday, September 29, 2023

Zachary Jean Krohnke told Bend Police that he was having “homicidal thoughts” after they arrested him for allegedly attempting to kill a woman at a motel on SE Third Street on Aug. 28, according to court records.

Less than a week later, after he was released upon posting bail, law enforcement authorities believe the 32-year-old La Pine man followed through on those thoughts.

Authorities in Wasco County haven’t charged Krohnke in the death of 33-year-old Samantha Bergren, whose body was found Sept. 3 in a Super 8 motel room in The Dalles, according to Deschutes County Circuit Court records. That same day, Krohnke was arrested after he told Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies he had killed the woman.

But on Tuesday, Deschutes County Circuit Judge Stephen Forte ordered that Krohnke remain in custody — this time without bail.

Krohnke has been accused of a slew of felony crimes in the Aug. 28 case, the most serious being attempted murder. Authorities said the Wasco County case is under investigation. Wasco County District Attorney Matthew Ellis did not return a call seeking comment.

Brittany Haver, a Deschutes County deputy district attorney, brought in sheriff’s office Sgt. Chris Barringer and Bend Police Detective Eli Allen to testify Tuesday in support of her argument that Krohnke was a risk to the public and should be held without bail.

“I think this is demonstrated by Mr. Krohnke himself when he was released on security in this case and then went and committed a homicide in The Dalles,” Haver said in court.

Court documents, police reports and the officers’ testimony in court Tuesday provide details of the criminal investigations into Krohnke.

Krohnke met up with a sex worker named Linda Tanner, in her room at the Royal Gateway Motel in Bend on Aug. 28, according to court records. At one point, when he returned from the restroom naked, he was “acting strangely” and “tried to forcefully pull her to him.”

Tanner tried to run toward the door, but Krohnke allegedly pulled out a knife and grabbed her. She managed to open the door, but Krohnke allegedly slammed the door on her leg, according to court records.

“She was screaming for help as loud as she could, managed to break free, and bolted from the room completely naked and ran across the street to another motel for help,” according to court records.

Authorities found Krohnke “down the road a few blocks, having walked off wearing only shorts and one sock.” He was still holding the knife, according to court records.

Bend Police arrested Krohnke, but he was released on Sept. 1 after his father paid $2,000 of his $20,000 bond, Allen and Deschutes County District Attorney Steve Gunnels said Tuesday. That payment met a statewide requirement that allows criminal defendants to be released if they post 10% of their security, Gunnels said.

At 5:58 a.m. the next day, Krohnke arranged to meet a sex worker in The Dalles, agreeing “to pay for her services,” according to court records. Krohnke drove there to the local Super 8 and rented a room, “where the escort, Ms. Bergren, met him,” according to court records. They were there for several hours. He left at 4:32 a.m., Sept. 3, alone.

The Dalles police found Bergren’s body later that afternoon.

At 4 p.m. that day, Krohnke, holding a knife, arrived at the Deschutes County Stabilization Center and “advised staff that he murdered an escort named ‘Sam’ in a motel room under his name in The Dalles before 4 a.m. this morning. He had a knife with him and made comments about desiring suicide by cop,” according to court records.

Police tried to convince him to drop the knife for nearly two hours, according to court records. Meanwhile, Krohnke told police that he had killed an escort named Sam earlier that morning, Barringer testified, confirming in court this was the name of the victim found in The Dalles.

Barringer added that Krohnke said he was concerned he might act on his urge to harm women again and wished for law enforcement to kill him.

“He made it clear that he should die for what he had done,” Barringer said in court Tuesday.

During this incident, Krohnke stabbed himself in the neck with a small knife and was taken to the hospital before he was booked in jail.

Krohnke’s plea hearing is scheduled Nov. 30.