Bend man found fatally stabbed in backyard of his SE Bend home; roommate arrested, arraigned on murder, assault charges

(Update: Court appearance, neighbor comments)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A 57-year-old man was found fatally stabbed Thursday night in the backyard of his southeast Bend home and his 46-year-old roommate was arrested, then arraigned Friday afternoon on second-degree murder and assault charges.

Officers responded around 8:35 p.m. Thursday to the report of a deceased person at a home in the 60800 block of Raintree Drive, north of Knott Road and east of SE 15th Street, Bend Police Lt. Juli-Ann McConkey said.

Officers found Matthew Kenneth Hallberg, 57, deceased in the backyard, she said.

A neighbor, Debra Miller, told NewsChannel 21 Friday morning, "I didn't see anything happening. I woke up and there was the whole police presence across the street. There were State Police and many cars doing the investigation. So it had happened, and I did see them bring out a body on a stretcher."

Hallberg's roommate, Robert Carter Lawrence, 46, was contacted at the home and subsequently arrested on charges of second-degree murder, aggravated first-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

Lawrence appeared for arraignment Friday afternoon before Deschutes County Circuit Judge Michael Adler, by video from the county jail.

According to Deputy District Attorney Stacy Neil, "A neighbor could hear the victim calling for help from the backyard (that) Mr. Lawrence was trying to kill him. A neighbor and another roommate arrived. Mr. Lawrence came out, admitting that he killed the victim." He died of several stab wounds, she said,

McConkey had said, “The men were roommates and acquaintances,”

Lawrence was booked into the Deschutes County Jail early Friday morning and was being held without bail,

The Oregon State Police Crime Lab assisted in the investigation, and an autopsy will be performed on Hallberg, she said.

District Attorney Steve Gunnels said the crime is alleged to have been committed with a knife. He noted that due to the murder charge, Lawrence won't be eligible for release on bail, but more information might come to light at the initial arraignment before Deschutes County Circuit Judge Michael Adler.

There were no signs in the neighborhood Friday morning of the investigation. A neighbor told us of a large police presence earlier and that the man's body was removed Friday morning.

Neighbor Miller said she was shocked by the events in the quiet neighborhood, she did not know the men, and that a landscaping business operated out of the home.

"It's obviously alarming," she said. "This is a quiet little cul de sac. We just don't have stuff like that happen here. So it was very unusual for sure."

Court-appointed defense attorney Thomas Spear told the judge he wants no further police questioning of Lawrence regarding the charges and advised Lawrence to say nothing more to anyone until he meets with him.

In court Friday, Neil asked that Lawrence remain held without bail, noting his 1995 conviction in North Carolina on burglary and assault with intent to kill charges.

Spear reserved argument regarding bail, so Lawrence will continue to be held pending arraignment on an expected grand jury indictment next Friday.