Cavan committed to Oregon State Hospital for life in Grant County murder case
By Logan Bagett on Friday, November 6th, 2026 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
CANYON CITY — It was ruled on Friday in Grant County Circuit Court that Gary Dylan Cavan is guilty except for insanity in the murder of 41-year-old Janelle Klaar in 2025.
Following a stipulated facts trial on Nov. 6, 2026, Circuit Court Judge Robert S. Raschio committed Cavan to the Oregon State Hospital under the jurisdiction of the Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) for life. Court records show Cavan, who appeared in custody alongside defense attorneys Jordan D. Willetts and Lynne B. Morgan, was found to have committed second-degree murder while suffering from a delusional mental disorder.
On the night of February 27th, 2025, Cavan murdered 41-year-old Janelle Klaar in a John Day, OR motel room. Cavan reportedly struck Klaar with a hammer that was present multiple times. Following a week-long manhunt, Cavan was apprehended by law enforcement on March 5th, 2025 after he was spotted trespassing at an old motel east of Prairie City.
According to the judgment, Judge Raschio based the ruling on evaluations completed by certified evaluators Dr. George P. Corvin on May 18, 2026, and Dr. Alexander C. Duncan on Nov. 2, 2026. Raschio determined Cavan was fit to proceed with trial, but suffered from a qualifying mental disorder — persecutory-type delusional disorder — at the time the incident occurred. That condition left Cavan lacking “substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality of the conduct or to conform their conduct to the requirements of law,” according to Raschio. The judge found Cavan would have otherwise faced a conviction for the murder charge and ruled that his disorder presents a “substantial danger to others,” ruling out conditional release.
The Grant County Sheriff’s Office has been ordered to handle Cavan’s transport back to the hospital once notified by facility staff.
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