Suspect in Oregon abduction arrested in Dayton

DAYTON " A suspect in the 1998 disappearance of an Oregon girl was arrested Wednesday in Dayton on a charge of failing to register as a felon in Lyon County.

Lyon County officers, accompanied by members of the Douglas County, Ore., Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police and FBI, arrested Dale Wayne Hill, 39, a convicted burglar, just before 10 a.m. Hill is scheduled to be arraigned today in Justice Court.

Hill is the prime suspect in the disappearance of Stephanie Condon, 14, who disappeared on Oct. 30, 1998, while she was babysitting.

Condon's fate was unknown for more than 10 years. On March 13, a man walking his dog on a remote forest road in Glide, Ore., found a skull. Douglas County, Ore., Sheriff John Hanlin confirmed Wednesday morning that the remains were those of Condon.

Hill had once dated Condon's aunt and told authorities he stopped by the house where Condon was babysitting, but that he had nothing to do with her disappearance, according to published reports.

He was convicted of an unrelated series of burglaries shortly after her disappearance and served about six years in prison before being released in 2005. Hill was never charged in Condon's disappearance.

Lyon County Sheriff's Capt. Rob Hall said Lyon County was alerted to Hill's presence in the community by Oregon authorities. A check of his status revealed he had failed to register as a felon, said Hall.

Officers contacted Hill at his apartment in the 300 block of Dayton Valley Road just before 10 a.m. and took him into custody without incident.

He had been living in Carson City on Corbett Street, but had recently moved to Lyon County, said Carson Sheriff Ken Furlong.

A cadre of Oregon officers at the Dayton substation Wednesday declined to comment on Hill's arrest, but one of the men confirmed they were with the Douglas County, Ore., Sheriff's Office, FBI and Oregon State Police.

Hill is being held on $1,132 bail.

A spokesman for the sheriff's office in Roseburg, Ore., said that as of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, no charges had been filed against Hill in connection with the Condon case. He would not speculate on whether charges were pending.

He did confirm that Oregon officers were in Dayton to speak with Hill about Condon's

disappearance.

"Dale Hill is a suspect in this case," he said.

- Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.

Courtesy of KVAL TV in Eugene, Ore.

For more video about the case visit kval.com