Portland Man Who Killed Girlfriend Will Spend 18 Years In Prison

PORTLAND, OR – Spencer Johnson woke up around 8:30 on the morning of July 2, 2016. He left his home in the Misty Fir Apartments at 1538 Southeast 122nd Avenue. He called his parents, telling them that his girlfriend, 49-year-old Cory Lumber, was dead inside their apartment.

She had moved in about one month earlier, they had only been together about three months.

Johnson then returned home. About 11 minutes after he called his parents, he called 911 to tell them what he had told his parents – that his girlfriend was dead.

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On Jan. 15, 2019, Johnson stood inside a Multnomah County courtroom and was told that he would spend the next 18-years in prison. He had pleaded guilty to manslaughter earlier in the month.

Inside the apartment, police had found Lumber dead from a single gunshot wound.

Working with a search warrant, detectives found six guns including a .40 caliber handgun that police later determined was used to kill Lumber.

More than two-dozen people gathered in the courtroom to hear the sentence handed down. They were friends of Lumber's, they were her family.

"Cory had an extremely good and caring heart,” her sister, Deann Ruth-Lumber, said on behalf of those people. "She would, when she could, go out of her way to help a friend in need. Cory always considered you her friend, even if there were short breaks in the relationship."

"She always seemed to remember everyone's face, phone numbers and all the family history.”

Johnson's guilty plea was to the charges of manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm constituting domestic violence and unlawful use of a weapon constituting domestic violence.

Deputy District Attorney Kelley Rhoades, who prosecuted the case, said of Lumber that "the loss of her life has and will continue to affect everyone she knew."

Her boss, Multnomah County District Rod Underhill, elaborates, adding that Lumber's killing is a reminder that there are opportunities to help domestic violence victims.

Underhill's office says that if someone would like to speak with someone about domestic violence prosecution, safety planning or other resources please contact the Victim Assistance Program for the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office at 503.988.3222.

The office has a posted page of domestic violence resources compiled by the Multnomah COunty Family Violence Coordinating Council.

Photo via Multnomah County Sheriff's Office.