Ore. man accused of killing 2 men 20 years apart pleads guilty to 1 of the deaths

PORTLAND, Ore. (TCD) -- A man suspected in the deaths of two men nearly 20 years apart pleaded guilty last week to killing a man whose body has still not been found.

Multnomah County court records show Christopher Lovrien entered the plea for manslaughter on Friday, Jan. 12, in connection with Mark Dribin’s 1999 death. His jury trial was scheduled to begin in February. He is still facing second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and firearm-related charges for allegedly killing and dismembering Kenneth Griffin in 2020.

The Oregonian/Oregon Live reports a judge sentenced Lovrien to 20 years.

Dribin was reported missing July 6, 1999, after he did not show up to work at United Airlines. He was last seen July 1, 1999. Portland Police said at the time Dribin’s disappearance was deemed suspicious and investigators suspected foul play could be involved. About 2 1/2 weeks later, on July 18, 1999, police located his car in southeast Portland.

As detectives investigated Dribin’s disappearance, they reportedly uncovered an unknown male’s DNA inside his car and home. Eventually, however, the case went cold. The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office issued a death certificate for Dribin in August 2000.

The Portland Police Bureau Cold Case Homicide Detail reopened Dribin’s case in March 2019 and submitted a DNA sample for additional testing. In September 2019, police identified Lovrien as a potential suspect in Dribin’s disappearance and death. Two months later, detectives interviewed him.

Then, on Feb. 2, 2020, Kenneth Griffin was reported missing after he was last seen alive the day prior. On April 16, 2020, police obtained a warrant to collect Lovrien’s DNA, and two weeks later, on April 30, 2020, he was charged with Dribin’s murder. The U.S. Marshals arrested Lovrien on May 4, 2020.

Portland Police detectives executed a search warrant at Lovrien’s residence later that month and discovered Griffin’s dismembered body inside a shed on his property. They also allegedly discovered six firearms at his home. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office indicted him again in March 2021 for murder and abuse of a corpse.

According to the district attorney’s office, investigators reportedly believe "both killings to be stranger-related, as there is no known connection between Lovrien, Dribin, or Griffin."

Officials also suspect there could be additional victims.

MORE:

• State of Oregon vs Christopher Charles Lovrien
• 'I’ve got Satan in me': Portland man gets 20 years for 1999 killing, still charged in grisly crossbow murder - The Oregonian/Oregon Live
• Christopher Lovrien charged with two homicides, other murder victims suspected, 3/10/2021 - Multnomah County District Attorney's Office
• Unsolved Homicide, 7/24/2013 - Portland Police Bureau