LINCOLN CITY, Ore. (KPTV) A family is mourning the death of their father, Bradley Cole, 69, after police say a homeless man assaulted and killed him in Lincoln City.
That guy, Roland Evans-Freke, 30, is charged with murder, as the victim’s family mourns a life cut short. They have set up a GoFundMe page to aid with the accompanying fees.
“It’s a huge loss,” stated Travis Cole, Bradley Cole’s eldest son. “It’s a tremendous loss for everyone.
Bradley Cole died in the Ashley Inn parking lot on Tuesday night, despite efforts to save him, according to police.
His family hailed him as the ideal father figure for his three children and four grandchildren.
Chase Cole, Bradley Cole’s youngest son, said, “He always made time for everyone who wanted to speak with him.”
“My father was a loving and kind person,” Travis Cole said. “He had compassion for everybody and was always ready to listen.”
Bradley Cole’s family reported he and his wife, Debra Cole, would frequently visit the shore.
They had stopped at Spirit Mountain Casino to have some fun before heading to Lincoln City to enjoy the sunlight. The couple was celebrating their 37th anniversary.
“This is something they’ve done forever,” Travis Cole explained.
Bradley Cole’s family say he was slain in a “horrible incident” on Tuesday night while taking their dog for a walk outside the hotel.
Bradley Cole’s sons said their mother overheard a scuffle after her husband stepped outside.
She looked out the window and saw who police described as a 30-year-old transient man, Evans-Freke, whom Debra Cole said she saw dragging their dog across the parking lot.
When she confronted him, she said the suspect told her their dog was better off with him.
“She said ‘no, this is my dog,’” Travis Cole said. “She ran up to him and grabbed the leash. It was a full-on fight in the parking lot.”
Travis Cole said while his mother was able to successfully get their dog into their room, when she looked out across the parking lot she saw her husband lying face down, unconscious.
“Things like this can happen out of nowhere, and it’s extremely tragic,” Travis Cole said.
According to Travis Cole, witnesses helped arrest the offender, who was subsequently placed into police custody.
“That’s just a small part of losing someone like my father,” Travis Cole explained.
While the family is pleased that 30-year-old Evans-Freke will face the criminal justice system, nothing will bring their father back.
“He was an excellent father and husband,” Chase Cole said. “It’s a tragedy.”
According to police, Evans-Freke is currently being held at the Lincoln County Jail on accusations of assault, robbery, and murder.
Anyone with information on this investigation can call Detective Sergeant Weaver at 541-994-3636.
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