Linn County Sheriff Michelle Duncan reports on August 5, 2026, at approximately 4:14 a.m., deputies with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 7-Eleven in Mill City after receiving a report of a female who had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A deputy arrived within minutes of the report and located a male acting erratic near a black 2010 Ford Edge, and a female inside the vehicle. The deputy began performing lifesaving measures on the female as she did not have a pulse. Responding paramedics declared the female deceased shortly after their arrival.
Detectives from the Linn County Sheriff’s Office and Marion County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location to assist with the investigation. Investigators identified the female as Kristie Ann Miltimore, 41, and the male as Rian Eugene Bernhardt, 51, both from Bend. Rian Bernhardt was interviewed at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and later arrested and booked into the Marion County Jail for the charge of Possession of Weapons by Certain Felons (Firearm).
Investigators determined that Kristie Miltimore and Rian Bernhardt were together at the time of the shooting at an unknown location near the Mill City area. Investigators are asking for anyone that may have seen the Ford Edge or had contact with Rian Bernhardt or Kristie Miltimore prior to the shooting to contact Detective Scott Tennant at the Linn County Sheriff’s Office at (541) 967-3950. No further information is available at this time.