Married Oregon man, 52, is charged with murder and kidnapping after his former mistress and their three-year-old son went missing amid custody battle
- Michael Wolfe, 52, charged with two counts each of aggravated murder, kidnapping in the disappearance of Karissa Fretwell, 25, and their son William
- The Salem Police Department said investigators and law enforcement partners are still searching for Fretwell and William, who were last seen on May 13
- But police said that they have enough evidence 'at this point' for murder charges
- Megan Harper, Fretwell's friend, said Wolfe and Fretwell had an affair when they were both working at a McMinville steel mill years ago
- She found out he was married after she got pregnant and he allegedly offered to pay for abortion
- Harper said that Wolfe recently wanted to fight Fretwell for custody of William
Married Oregon man Michael Wolfe, 52, has been charged with murder and kidnapping after his former mistress and their three-year-old son went missing
A married Oregon man has been charged with murder and kidnapping after his former mistress and their three-year-old son went missing.
Michael Wolfe, 52, has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder and two counts of kidnapping in the disappearance of Karissa Fretwell, 25, and their son William.
The Salem Police Department said investigators and law enforcement partners are still searching for Fretwell and William, who were last seen on May 13.
Lt Treven Upkes said police, who arrested Wolfe at a Portland doughnut shop on Friday, have enough evidence 'at this point' to charge Wolfe with murder.
'We work toward the worst possible scenario and hope for the best,' he said. 'We continue to hope for the safe return of Karissa and William.'
Upkes would not disclose why Wolfe was a suspect in the case but it was recently discovered that Wolfe and Fretwell were in the middle of a custody battle.
Wolfe has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder and two counts of kidnapping in the disappearance of Karissa Fretwell, 25, and their son William (both pictured)
The Salem Police Department said investigators and law enforcement partners are still searching for Fretwell and William, who were last seen on May 13
A paternity test recently revealed that Wolfe was William's biological father and he was ordered to pay $900 a month in child support.
Fretwell had filed a petition last year to establish William's paternity.
A paternity test recently revealed that Wolfe was William's biological father and he was ordered to pay $900 a month in child support. Wolfe is seen here in an undated mugshot
Megan Harper, Fretwell's friend, said Wolfe and Fretwell had an affair when they were both working at a McMinville steel mill years ago.
'There was never a relationship there,' Harper told KATU. 'She never knew he was married until after a couple weeks of her being pregnant. Then he offered to pay for an abortion.'
But Harper said Wolfe later wanted to have full custody of William.
'That was her fear, him taking her child away,' she added. 'My first thought when she went missing was that he'd done something.'
Multiple friends of Fretwell said Wolfe began to send her worrying messages.
'There were all these warning signs,' Harper said. 'He would send her creepy things in the mail.'
Harper said she was supposed to watch William on May 17 but never heard from her friend. They had last spoken days before, on May 11, when Fretwell asked Harper about installing a security camera system called Ring.
Fretwell and her son were reported missing on May 17 by family after she didn't show up for work. Their last known location was west Salem.
Wolfe was named a person of interest on Thursday and police said they are searching two of his rural properties, including a 10-acre property in Gaston.
Megan Harper, Fretwell's friend, said Wolfe and Fretwell had an affair when they were both working at a McMinville steel mill years ago
Harper said Fretwell only found out Wolfe was married weeks after she fell pregnant and he allegedly offered to pay for an abortion
Authorities said dive teams are also being used to help search bodies of water in Yamhill County.
Randy Ruggles, Wolfe's neighbor, said the suspect has lived there with his family for the last eight years. He said he has not seen Wolfe for months.
'This was a big shocker to us,' Ruggles told the Statesman Journal. 'It's just scary.'
Ruggles said FBI officials and Salem police officers have been at Wolfe's house since Sunday.
Wolfe is currently being held without bail at Yamhill County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
It remains unclear if his wife or family members have been interviewed by the police and if they are part of the investigation.
A car registered to Karissa is still parked in front of the apartment. The white Grand Am, pictured, has a child's car seat in the back
Harper said Wolfe later wanted to have full custody of William. 'That was her fear, him taking her child away,' she said.
Authorities said the final charges against Wolfe will be determined by the Office of the District Attorney of Yamhill County.
Fretwell is described as 5ft 9in, 135 pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair that she dyes red. William is described as 3ft, 30 pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair.
'I'm hoping by some miracle that they are just locked away somewhere and they find her,' Harper said.
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'And I can say, "We didn't give up hope, we didn't stop looking for you", and have a happy ending to the story.'
Anyone with information regarding this case should call the Salem Police Department Tips Hotline at 503-588-8477.
Fretwell is described as 5ft 9in, 135 pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair that she dyes red. William is described as 3ft, 30 pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair
