Deceased Individual Believed to be Homicide Suspect from Utah
By Garrett Christensen on Wednesday, August 17th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
WALLOWA COUNTY – (Release from Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office. Previously posted to the Elkhorn Media Group Facebook page.) On Monday, August 15, 2022, the Wallowa County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police responded to an abandoned white, 2005 Chevrolet Silverado parked on the shoulder of Hurricane Creek Road near the trailhead. The registration plate came back to a felony vehicle belonging to Michael Grant Asman, age 35. Asman was a fugitive from Wasatch County, Utah where he was wanted for the murder of Julie Ann Burns on July 14, 2022. A warrant had been issued by the Fourth District Court in and for Wasatch County, Utah charging Michael Asman with Homicide on July 14, 2022, and his whereabouts were unknown.
At about 1:00pm, Michael Asman’s truck was located unoccupied, and there were signs it had not been moved in some time. OSP Sergeant Grant Jackson and Wallowa County Deputy Sheriff Paul Pagano searched down through a wooded area to the creek. Sgt. Jackson and Deputy Pagano then located a decomposing corpse with a Glock model 27, .40 S&W caliber pistol by the left shoulder and a gunshot wound to the head. Wallowa County Medical Examiner Gary Zeigler responded to the scene.
Wasatch County Undersheriff Joseph Probst, Lieutenant Shane Fredrickson, and Detective Dustin Lazenby along with Heber City Police Sergeant Rick Keel flew into Joseph Airport and joined the investigation. Investigators believe the deceased to be Michael Grant Asman, age 35, of Heber City, Utah.
A search warrant was issued by Circuit Court Judge Wes Williams for the Chevrolet Silverado. The pickup was searched on scene and towed by SPS Towing.
