Lake Oswego Police Say How They Think Heidi Winchester Was Killed

LAKE OSWEGO, OR – "I could not bare to watch mom suffer anymore," Michael Winchester wrote in a note to his two sons after he killed his wife – their mother, Heidi – on Jan. 30. That's what Lake Oswego Police said on Wednesday as they released more details about what happened on the day that she was killed.

Police say that as they responded to the family's home on Bass Lane, they were told by dispatch that the couple's 18-year-old son, Blake, that his dad had strangled Heidi to put her out of misery.

"I did it, I killed her, she had cancer, she's dead upstairs," police say that Michael told them without prompting.

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Officers went upstairs and found Heidi, dead. There was a box-cutter type knife next to her. They were told that Michael might have also tried to kill himself with the box cutter.

An autopsy by the state medical examiner found the cause of death was likely "sharp force trauma" and that there is no indication that anyone beside Michael might have been involved.

Police say that Michael's note also described his wife's suffering and his emotional state.

He is charged with murder and was booked into Clackamas County Jail after having spent some time in the hospital being treated for what are still unspecified injures.

Meanwhile, a fundraiser is underway to provide for Blake and his younger brother as they struggle to move on.

"Due to the sudden loss of their mother, we are raising funds to help support Michael and Blake get through these difficult times," friends wrote on the GoFundMe page.

"Any support is appreciated, no matter how small. Michael and Blake are currently safe and surrounded by loved ones."

Photo via GoFundMe, a Patch partner.