On December 9, 2024, Marion County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Gardiner sentenced Edward Casian to life in prison for Murder in the Second Degree for killing his 6-month-old son, Ryker.
The conviction results from an incident that occurred around 5:00 A.M. on April 12, 2022. Emergency services were called to Defendant’s residence after Ryker was found non-responsive. Paramedics determined Ryker’s time of death at 7:45am. Investigators followed Marion County’s Child Death Investigation Protocol, and Salem Police detectives and Marion County Death Investigators found suspicious bruising to Ryker’s body.
At that time, Dr. Rebecca Millius of the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office determined the immediate cause of death to be Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SIDS).
Nevertheless, Salem Police Detectives continued their investigation due to Ryker’s concerning bruises. Ultimately, they gathered additional information and in May of 2023, re-questioned Edward Casian regarding the suspicious injuries on Ryker. This time, Casian admitted to multiple incidents of violence against Ryker.
Based in part on those statements, Dr. Millius changed her cause of death to be Asphyxia Due to Smothering and manner of death as Homicide.
No further details will be released due to the nature of the investigation involving child abuse.
On December 9, 2024, Edward Casian plead No Contest to Murder in the Second Degree. A no contest plea has the same legal effect as a guilty plea and requires agreement that the state has sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Edward Casian recklessly subjected Ryker, a child under 14, to “a pattern and practice of assault and torture.”
Judge Gardiner sentenced Edward Casian to life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum of 25 years in the department of corrections.
This case was investigated by the Salem Police Department. Detective Grant Foster was the lead investigator.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kylie Kuhns and Chief Deputy District Attorney Brendan Murphy. Spencer Todd and Christopher Clayhold represented Edward Casian.
