COOS COUNTY, Ore. – Authorities have arrested two individuals in connection with a homicide that took place in Coos County earlier this month.
On the morning of March 12, 2025, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a deceased individual at Johnson Mill Pond, a county park located between Coquille and Myrtle Point. Deputies who responded to the scene discovered the body of Larry Burkhow, a man who had reportedly died as a result of “apparent homicidal violence,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
With few immediate leads or clues, law enforcement launched an intensive investigation that included canvassing the area and conducting numerous interviews. Agencies such as Oregon State Police, Coos Bay Police, Coquille Police, and Myrtle Point Police worked collaboratively on the case.
The investigation soon led authorities to identify 57-year-old Elaine Warner as a person of interest. Warner was located in Brookings, Oregon, where she consented to an interview. After the questioning, she was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with Burkhow’s death.
Further inquiry into the case revealed a second suspect, 60-year-old Michael Finley. Law enforcement, including patrol deputies and the United States Marshal’s Service, launched a manhunt for Finley, leading to his arrest on March 15, 2025. Finley was apprehended near Langlois, Oregon, in the early hours of the morning.
The investigation, which spanned approximately 68 hours, was a coordinated effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. In addition to the agencies already involved, the Curry County Sheriff’s Office and the Brookings Police Department also assisted in the search and investigation.
Both Warner and Finley remain in custody as the investigation continues.
The Coos County Sheriff’s Office expressed gratitude to all the agencies that contributed to the successful resolution of the case.
