Oregon Man Sentenced to Life After Pleading Guilty in Girlfriend’s Killing and Body Disposal

A Clackamas County man has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years following his guilty plea in the killing of his girlfriend and the concealment of her body in nearby woods.

William Glen Blake, 56, admitted to second-degree murder in the death of 38-year-old Jennifer Ruth Stuart and was sentenced on Jan. 15, according to a release from the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors say Blake shot Stuart at his Oregon City home on Aug. 14, 2025.

After the killing, investigators say Blake drove to a Home Depot and purchased a large plastic tote, garbage bags and gloves. Surveillance footage and purchase records later tied those items to the disposal of the body. Stuart’s remains were discovered on Sept. 1, 2025, when hunters off Hillockborn Road noticed turkey vultures circling a site in the woods. An autopsy concluded she died of a gunshot wound and noted an apparent entry wound on the lower left side of her body.

How Investigators Linked Blake To The Crime

Authorities said a combination of witness reports, surveillance video and physical evidence prompted investigators to focus on Blake. A neighbor told police she had regularly witnessed physical assaults against Stuart, and prosecutors said the alleged pattern of abuse informed the investigation. Surveillance footage captured Blake’s car near the Home Depot and in areas close to where Stuart’s remains were later found.

Prosecutors said Blake initially placed Stuart’s body inside the large tote but later removed it because he feared it could connect him to the crime; police located the tote during a second search of his property. While speaking with investigators, Blake admitted to shooting Stuart and leaving her body in the woods, the DA’s office said.

Victim Impact: In court, Stuart’s mother, Elizabeth Stuart, addressed Blake directly and called him “a rabid, savage beast,” describing the indignity of how her daughter’s body was treated.

As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors dropped additional counts related to disposal of the body and alleged evidence tampering. Local reporting also noted that Blake’s teenage son was arrested in connection with the investigation; the current status of any charges against him has not been made public.

The Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office issued the release announcing the plea and sentence. Local outlets, including KPTV, provided additional reporting on the investigation and arrests.

Note: The sentence imposes life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years, reflecting the second-degree murder plea entered by Blake.