One Year Later, A Look Back at a Tragedy in Hermiston

Just over a year has passed since the double murder-suicide took place in Hermiston involving a volunteer wrestling coach, a 14-year-old boy and another man.

The lives of JJ Hurtado, 14, Kenneth Valdez, 45, and Jason Huston, 45, ended on Aug. 18, 2016 in Hermiston. Hurtado’s mother, Andria Bye, 35, was shot, but survived.

OregonLive.com looks back at the shocking crime and tries to find some answers. Reporter Jim Ryan talked with people who knew those involved. Here’s an excerpt:

Huston and JJ had a complicated relationship, which continued after Huston and Andria Bye’s romance ended. But they shared a love for wrestling. Huston was a Hermiston alumnus who poured dozens of hours into the program. JJ was a promising grappler destined for a spot on the high school’s heralded varsity squad.

Huston pushed JJ to success, with the boy becoming a state champion in his age group. And JJ was a stand-in son for a man who had no children of his own.

But their rapport was strained at times.

JJ’s father, Leonardo Hurtado, said he and Bye divorced around 2008 and his ex-wife started dating Huston about that time. So Huston had a big influence on JJ.

Leonardo Hurtado didn’t like Huston’s discipline style. Huston made the boy run on a treadmill until he passed out at least once, the father alleged in interviews with The Oregonian/OregonLive. Huston also made JJ do pushups until he could no longer lift his body from the floor.

For the full story, click here.