Craigen’s murder conviction is overturned

By Terry Murry on Friday, January 20th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

SALEM – The Oregon Supreme Court yesterday (Thursday) upheld the Oregon Court of Appeals ruling that the murder conviction of George West Craigen of Milton-Freewater is overturned. He was convicted of killing Cecil “Rob” Carter in 2011 in Milton-Freewater.

The appellate court ruling was issued in 2021. The Oregon Department of Justice argued against the ruling, but to no avail. Craigen contended and the higher courts upheld that statements that Craigen made to law enforcement should not have been made without an attorney present.

Craigen went through several attorneys and every judge in Umatilla County during the process of this case and others against him. He was convicted in 2014 and sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder and an additional two years for weapons charges. The weapons charges still stand. A visiting magistrate, Judge Russell West of Union County, ended up presiding over the trial due to conflicts of interest with Sixth Circuit Court judges.

The time frame for Craigen’s return to the Umatilla County Jail and his retrial have not been announced.

The photo is a MYCB file photo from Craigen’s arrest in 2012