Update: Person of interest in Burns death in Bend jail

(Update: Burns woman in Bend jail since Sunday; info sought)

Harney County authorities asked the public Thursday to help provide information about a Burns woman arrested Sunday in Deschutes County who is a person of interest in a recent suspicious death of a Burns man. Officials said she is believed to have been in or around the Bend area recently.

The Harney County District Attorney’s Office said sheriff’s deputies responded to a welfare check on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at an address in the 300 block of West Hayes Street in Burns.

A preliminary investigation indicates Albert Deiter, 59, died “of what is believed to be under suspicious circumstances,” Thursday’s announcement said.

A person of interest was identified as Shelly Hubeek, 53, also of Burns, they said.

An initial news release did not indicate Hubeek had been arrested early Sunday by Oregon State Police and booked into the Deschutes County Jail on a warrant for a third-degree theft charge earlier this year.

An updated release said the Harney County Major Crimes Team “is aware of Hubeek’s current location” and said they would like to hear from anyone who saw or had contact with Hubeek between Oct. 13-23. They are asked to call Harney County dispatch at 541-573-6028.

The major crimes team is not releasing any further details “in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation,” the news release said.

The Harney County Major Crimes Team is composed of the Burns and Hines police departments, the Harney County sheriff’s and DA’s offices and Oregon State Police.