Man Found Dying on I-5 Near Gold Hill; Suspect Arrested Hours Later

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) revealed that the suspect in a rural Gold Hill homicide that took place next to Interstate 5, on Thursday, 34-year-old Michael Lloyd Balestra Jr., of Gold Hill, was taken into custody after the victim,  47-year-old Steven Jason Worthington of Shady Cove, died from his injuries.

Gold Hill I-5 Homicide Suspect Arrested

On Thursday, at  JSCO, officers were deployed after the Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon ECSO 911 Dispatch received multiple reports of an injured person attempting to flag down cars on I-5 South near mile marker 42.5, in the area of Old Stage Road and Galls Creek Road in rural Gold Hill.

At 8:01 AM, JCSO deputies and Jackson County Fire District #1 Rogue River paramedics arrived on scene. They attempted life-saving measures, but the victim, Steven Jason Worthington, was pronounced dead at 8:36 AM.  His next-of-kin were notified.

OSP Crime Lab also responded to assist with forensics. I-5 southbound at mile marker 42.5 was restricted to one lane of travel, and the intersection of Old Stage Road and Galls Creek Road was closed during the initial investigation, but has since reopened.

Multiple law enforcement units searched the area attempting to find the suspect and an unknown involved vehicle. JCSO detectives and deputies responded to a 911 Dispatch call received at 10:00 AM, reporting a suspicious person in the 1000 block of Galls Creek Road. Officers determined the suspicious person to be the suspect in the I-5 homicide.

Michael Lloyd Balestra Jr. was arrested and lodged in the Jackson County Jail. He is charged with second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree theft, unlawful use of a weapon, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

JCSO confirmed that there is no danger to the public.