Police: Oregon father kills son, self on camping trip

WARRENTON, Ore. — Police are investigating a murder-suicide involving an Oregon father and his 10-year-old son on a camping trip at Fort Stevens State Park in Warrenton.

Police say Rockland Stephens, 49, of St. Helens was in a custody battle with his former wife and had failed to return their son to her.

Investigators say it appears Stephens ran a hose from the exhaust pipe of his van to the cab and went to sleep next to his son, Shane Davis.

Authorities say their condition was consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Park employees found the bodies Tuesday afternoon.

Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis said toxicology tests will be conducted on both bodies by the state medical examiner.

Police had been looking for Stephens since late Sunday, after he failed to return the boy to his mother, Shannon Davis, 35. She was granted a restraining order against Stephens on Jan. 17.

On Jan. 22, Stephens was granted "parenting time" with his son on alternate weekends by Columbia County Circuit Judge Stephen Reed, Marquis told The Oregonian newspaper.

District Attorney Steve Atchison said his office issued an arrest warrant for Stephens on Monday: "We acted as quickly as we could, but apparently it was too late."