(MT) – The fatal shooting on Christmas day of Vivian Faye Bighaus, 66, of
Sandy, forced the closing of Highway 26 from Sandy to Brightwood, snarling
holiday traffic to and from the Mountain for seven hours.

In the early morning hours of Dec. 26, Michael Scott Bighaus, 41, was
apprehended at the Fernwood Circle residence – the scene of the shooting –
by Clackamas County Sheriff’s deputies and arrested “without further
incident,” and he was described “compliant to the demands of deputies,”
according to the sheriff’s department.

Michael Bighaus was transported by investigators and lodged in the
Clackamas County Jail on charges of murder.

Vivian Bighaus, the mother of Michael, resided with her husband of 44 years,
Phillip Bighaus, 67. It was the husband – present at the residence at the time
– who notified authorities of the fatal shooting.

CCSD reported that when they arrived at the scene they were told that
Michael Bighaus shot his mother with a large caliber rifle and immediately fled
the scene on foot, armed with the rifle.

The suspect was a client of Clackamas County Corrections and has an existing
misdemeanor arrest warrant for absconding. He has prior arrests for driving
under the influence, burglary and criminal mischief.

Michael Bighaus was reported by a family member to have a mental disorder
and was believed to have not been taking his prescribed medication for his
existing condition, according to the sheriff’s department report.

The suspect was described by authorities as a transient and had been known
to camp in the vicinity of Fernwood Circle in Sandy.

Sheriff’s personnel responded in force on Christmas day to secure a wide
perimeter around the crime scene location. Recognizing the suspect was
reported to have fled the residence with a large caliber rifle, deputies closed
all lanes of travel along Highway 26.

The closure was conducted to help insure the safety of motorists and to
enable law enforcement the most efficient means of conducting an immediate
and thorough search of the area.

SWAT teams immediately moved through the area on foot in search of the
suspect. An additional objective was to secure the crime scene to allow
deputies and forensic technicians access to the scene for processing.

In addition, forensic technicians representing the Oregon State Crime Lab
were alerted and responded to the scene.

There is no motive as yet for the shooting.