Topline: According to investigators, 80% of the victim’s body was charred by the fire.
Published: March 20, 2025 7:00 am ET
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The vehicle that was found on fire with Andrew Hathaway's body in the trunk (via Multnomah County District Attorney's Office)
MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR — An Oregon man was convicted of stabbing a man over 50 times before burning his body in the trunk of a car.
Prosecutors announced a jury convicted Thomas Robert Colon, 44, for the murder of Andrew Hathaway on September 5, 2018.
Colon was originally indicted on four counts including Murder in the Second Degree, Arson in the Second Degree, Abuse of a Corpse in the First Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
The morning of the trial, Colon pleaded guilty to Arson in the Second Degree, Abuse of a Corpse in the Second Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
According to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, the incident began on September 3, 2018, when Hathaway drove to a house in Multnomah County where two other men were living and Colon was visiting.
That evening, all four men were using drugs and high, officials say.
At one point, Colon and Hathaway were alone in the house and they began a physical fight. One of the other men later said that Colon was winning the fight and Hathaway was screaming for help.
The other men broke up the fight and things calmed down for a time. Eventually the fight started up again and Hathaway was bloodied. It briefly stopped for a second time but then continued with Colon beating and stabbing Hathaway until he was dead, according to authorities.
Colon and one of the other two men moved Hathaway’s body to the trunk of Hathaway’s car and drove it to Marine Drive. They left it in a vacant parking lot and set the car on fire.
Responding fire crews found Hathaway’s body in the trunk.
According to investigators, 80% of Hathaway’s body was charred by the fire.
An autopsy revealed that he died before the fire and had 55 stab wounds and six “slice wounds” on his body.
Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet prosecuted the case along with Deputy District Attorney Kenzie Ludwig.
“This is some justice for the Hathaway family. They’ve been living with this for seven years. I’m glad we could finally bring them some closure. This was a lengthy, involved investigation with lots of misdirection from others in the beginning. But we saw it through and found the killer,” Overstreet said.
The District Attorney’s Office acknowledged the work of retired Portland Police Bureau Detective Vince Cui for his “excellent work.”
Colon faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. He will serve 25 years before becoming eligible to apply for parole.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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DA: Jury Convicts Man of Stabbing Victim 55 Times, Igniting Car Fire With Body in Trunk
According to investigators, 80% of the victim’s body was charred by the fire.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 20, 2025 7:00 am ET
The vehicle that was found on fire with Andrew Hathaway's body in the trunk (via Multnomah County District Attorney's Office)
MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR — An Oregon man was convicted of stabbing a man over 50 times before burning his body in the trunk of a car.
Prosecutors announced a jury convicted Thomas Robert Colon, 44, for the murder of Andrew Hathaway on September 5, 2018.
Colon was originally indicted on four counts including Murder in the Second Degree, Arson in the Second Degree, Abuse of a Corpse in the First Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
The morning of the trial, Colon pleaded guilty to Arson in the Second Degree, Abuse of a Corpse in the Second Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
According to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, the incident began on September 3, 2018, when Hathaway drove to a house in Multnomah County where two other men were living and Colon was visiting.
That evening, all four men were using drugs and high, officials say.
At one point, Colon and Hathaway were alone in the house and they began a physical fight. One of the other men later said that Colon was winning the fight and Hathaway was screaming for help.
The other men broke up the fight and things calmed down for a time. Eventually the fight started up again and Hathaway was bloodied. It briefly stopped for a second time but then continued with Colon beating and stabbing Hathaway until he was dead, according to authorities.
Colon and one of the other two men moved Hathaway’s body to the trunk of Hathaway’s car and drove it to Marine Drive. They left it in a vacant parking lot and set the car on fire.
Responding fire crews found Hathaway’s body in the trunk.
According to investigators, 80% of Hathaway’s body was charred by the fire.
An autopsy revealed that he died before the fire and had 55 stab wounds and six “slice wounds” on his body.
Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet prosecuted the case along with Deputy District Attorney Kenzie Ludwig.
“This is some justice for the Hathaway family. They’ve been living with this for seven years. I’m glad we could finally bring them some closure. This was a lengthy, involved investigation with lots of misdirection from others in the beginning. But we saw it through and found the killer,” Overstreet said.
The District Attorney’s Office acknowledged the work of retired Portland Police Bureau Detective Vince Cui for his “excellent work.”
Colon faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. He will serve 25 years before becoming eligible to apply for parole.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
DA: Jury Convicts Man of Stabbing Victim 55 Times, Igniting Car Fire With Body in Trunk
According to investigators, 80% of the victim’s body was charred by the fire.
By Jacob Charles
Published: March 20, 2025 7:00 am ET
The vehicle that was found on fire with Andrew Hathaway's body in the trunk (via Multnomah County District Attorney's Office)
MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR — An Oregon man was convicted of stabbing a man over 50 times before burning his body in the trunk of a car.
Prosecutors announced a jury convicted Thomas Robert Colon, 44, for the murder of Andrew Hathaway on September 5, 2018.
Colon was originally indicted on four counts including Murder in the Second Degree, Arson in the Second Degree, Abuse of a Corpse in the First Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
The morning of the trial, Colon pleaded guilty to Arson in the Second Degree, Abuse of a Corpse in the Second Degree and Tampering with Physical Evidence.
According to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, the incident began on September 3, 2018, when Hathaway drove to a house in Multnomah County where two other men were living and Colon was visiting.
That evening, all four men were using drugs and high, officials say.
At one point, Colon and Hathaway were alone in the house and they began a physical fight. One of the other men later said that Colon was winning the fight and Hathaway was screaming for help.
The other men broke up the fight and things calmed down for a time. Eventually the fight started up again and Hathaway was bloodied. It briefly stopped for a second time but then continued with Colon beating and stabbing Hathaway until he was dead, according to authorities.
Colon and one of the other two men moved Hathaway’s body to the trunk of Hathaway’s car and drove it to Marine Drive. They left it in a vacant parking lot and set the car on fire.
Responding fire crews found Hathaway’s body in the trunk.
According to investigators, 80% of Hathaway’s body was charred by the fire.
An autopsy revealed that he died before the fire and had 55 stab wounds and six “slice wounds” on his body.
Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet prosecuted the case along with Deputy District Attorney Kenzie Ludwig.
“This is some justice for the Hathaway family. They’ve been living with this for seven years. I’m glad we could finally bring them some closure. This was a lengthy, involved investigation with lots of misdirection from others in the beginning. But we saw it through and found the killer,” Overstreet said.
The District Attorney’s Office acknowledged the work of retired Portland Police Bureau Detective Vince Cui for his “excellent work.”
Colon faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. He will serve 25 years before becoming eligible to apply for parole.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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