An Oregon jury convicted a man of stabbing his friend 55 times before placing the body in the trunk of the victim’s car and setting it on fire. The defendant, 44-year-old Robert Thomas Colon, was found guilty of the 2018 murder of 27-year-old Andrew Hathaway in Portland. Prior to the trial, Colon had pleaded guilty to arson, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence. He is scheduled to be sentenced soon and faces a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
According to prosecutors, Colon and Hathaway were at a residence with two other men, where they consumed drugs together. At some point, a physical altercation broke out between Colon and Hathaway. Colon was dominating the fight, prompting Hathaway to call for help. The two other men intervened, breaking up the confrontation, and the situation briefly de-escalated. However, another fight ensued, during which Colon repeatedly beat and stabbed Hathaway until he died.
Following the killing, Colon and one of the other men placed Hathaway’s body in the trunk of his own car. They then drove to a vacant lot and set the vehicle on fire. Firefighters later arrived to extinguish the blaze and discovered the remains inside the trunk. Due to the intensity of the fire, Hathaway’s body was largely unrecognizable, with approximately 80% of his remains severely burned.
An autopsy revealed that Hathaway had sustained 55 stab wounds and six slicing wounds across his body. Authorities did not publicly disclose a motive for the killing.
The case was marked by a lengthy and complex investigation, which was initially hindered by conflicting accounts from individuals involved. Despite the obstacles, investigators continued their efforts, ultimately identifying Colon as the perpetrator.
After years of uncertainty, Hathaway’s family finally received a measure of justice. Prosecutors expressed relief that the case had been resolved, acknowledging the pain the family had endured throughout the lengthy legal process. The verdict brought closure to an investigation that had spanned several years and involved extensive efforts to uncover the truth.
