UPDATE: Bend man arrested on murder charge, accused of killing wife; judge orders him held without bail
(Update: Mitchell arraigned on murder, other charges)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A Deschutes County judge on Thursday ordered that a Bend man accused of killing his wife, then disturbing her remains, be held without bail.
The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office announced earlier Thursday that Stephen Kemm Mitchell, 45, was arrested early Wednesday and booked into the Deschutes County Jail.
Formal charges filed Thursday include second-degree murder, second-degree abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in the death of Christi Lynn Mitchell, 43. The latter two charges involve alleged actions involving his wife's body.
Christi Mitchell's body was discovered after deputies responded to a report of suspicious circumstances just before 3 a.m. on Wednesday, according to the agency.
District Attorney Steve Gunnels confirmed to NewsChannel 21 that the victim was the suspect's wife, and was arrested at their home.
"They were renting an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) on the property where the homicide occurred," the DA told us. Court records show Stephen Mitchell lived in the 63000 block of North Highway 97. No information has been released about the cause of death.
Appearing by video from jail, Mitchell told Circuit Judge Alison Emerson he wanted to request a delay so he could speak to a group, including the DA's office.
Emerson said Mitchell could represent himself, or talk to family members about possibly hiring an attorney. But in the meantime, she appointed the Atlas Law Group to represent him advised he should not speak to anyone else about the charges until he talks with the appointed lawyer, Raun Atkinson.
Deputy District Attorney Alison Filo asked that Mitchell continue to be held without bail, as he was
"discovered being packed and ready to flee." She said he has a prior weapons offense, and prosecutors believe he poses "an extreme danger to the community, if he were to flee."
The judge agreed to the no-bail hold and set arraignment in a week on an expected grand jury indictment.
Read the press release from DCSO in full below:
"On January 7, 2026, at 2:58 a.m., deputies with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of suspicious circumstances at a property near Bowery Lane and Grandview Drive just north of Bend. Upon arrival, the body of Christi Mitchell, 43, was discovered. Deputies contacted Stephen Mitchell, 45, who was still on scene and took him into custody.
Following an initial interview and investigation, Stephen Mitchell was lodged at the Deschutes County Adult Jail and is facing several charges, including Murder in the Second Degree, Physical Tampering with Evidence, Reckless Burning, and Abuse of a Corpse.
The public may notice police presence near Deschutes Memorial Gardens on the north end of Bend as the investigation continues.
The Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by Oregon State Police, Bend Police Department, Redmond Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bend Fire Marshal’s Office.
Further inquiries regarding this case should be addressed to the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office."
