True Crime All The Time Unsolved – Episode 459: David Grubbs

Release Date: April 6, 2026
Hosts: Mike Ferguson & Mike Gibson
Case Location: Ashland, Oregon
Case Summary: The brutal, unsolved 2011 murder of 23-year-old David Grubbs

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson (aka Gibby) explore the killing of David Grubbs, an Ashland, Oregon man who was ambushed and nearly decapitated by an unknown assailant while walking home from work along a popular bike path in November 2011. Over a decade later, the crime remains unsolved, despite considerable police manpower, community fear, and at least one person of interest. The episode discusses David’s life, details of the crime, investigative challenges, police leads, and the devastating aftermath for friends, family, and the community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Was David Grubbs? (04:13–08:05)

• Background and Personality:
  • Born November 23, 1987, youngest child of Sherry Grubbs, with two older sisters
  • Remembered as exceptionally kind, friendly, gentle, and funny
  • Enjoyed music (played bass, participated in youth orchestra), video games, and was close with his best friend Garrison Ma
  • “David was the gentlest, funniest young man I’ve ever met in my life. He had great musical talent, and he was just so gentle.” – PJ Ma (07:25)
• Daily Life:
  • Worked at the local “Shopping Cart,” living with Garrison and his family, godfather to Garrison’s daughter

2. The Night of the Murder (09:23–13:34)

• Timeline:
  • November 19, 2011: After his shift, David walked home on the Central Ashland Bike Path, habitually used by families and joggers
  • Attacked from behind (near dusk, unlit area near Hunter Park and an elementary school)
  • Weapon: Large edged weapon (machete, sword, or big knife)
  • Found ~30 minutes later by passersby; his wallet and beer were untouched
  • Cause of death: Multiple sharp force injuries, near decapitation
• Immediate Response:
  • Rain threatened evidence, but scene was preserved with canopies (12:19)
  • No motive or personal conflict discovered

3. Community Impact & Fear (19:03–20:25)

• Immediate Shock:
  • “There was a lot of upset in the community, especially in the first week, because Ashland Police Department is not equipped to handle something like this.” – Garrison Ma (19:19)
  • Community forum (29:02): Chief admitted police couldn’t assure safety; people were scared to use the bike path
• Lasting Trauma:
  • Friends questioned their own safety; parents stopped letting kids play in the area

4. The Investigation: Obstacles & Leads (13:34–35:19)

• Uniqueness of the Crime:
  • Investigator: “Most homicide involves a person who commits the crime with some relationship to the victim. This might truly be random.” (14:45)
  • No similar cases found in the region; edged weapon never recovered
• Weapon Search:
  • Officers contacted and confiscated many heavy bladed weapons locally (17:12)
  • None connected to the murder after crime lab analysis
• Randomness Complicates the Case:
  • “If you can’t establish a motive, how much harder does it make it to try to find potential suspects?” (13:29)
  • With no clear motive, investigators struggled to narrow suspects
• Exploring the Video Game Angle:
  • David played Assassin’s Creed, a game with swordplay and decapitation scenes
  • Investigators seized his consoles—found nothing useful (25:31–28:51)
  • Game-related violence considered unlikely after review
• Major Searches and Tips:
  • December 2011: Police looked into David’s gaming contacts (limited by technology)
  • June 2012: FBI and crime lab consulted, but lacked leads (35:19)
  • November 2012: Searched a property with pond and barns based on a “major tip”—no results

5. Person of Interest: Christian De Laurentiis (35:19–47:42)

• Profile:
  • In 2012, De Laurentiis stabbed and dismembered roommate after a series of bank robberies
  • Violent criminal with history in the area, known to be using meth/heroin at the time
• Why Considered?
  • “He clearly is capable of very violent behavior. He was here. He murdered his roommate … he has to be considered a viable candidate for having done this.” – Deputy Chief Ty O'Meara (40:10)
• No Direct Evidence:
  • De Laurentiis won't talk; no DNA or other evidence links him to David’s murder (48:14)
  • Remains incarcerated for other crimes, police haven’t excluded or confirmed involvement

6. Enduring Grief and Community Effects (54:00–56:44)

• Family Perspective:
  • David’s mother, Sherry, entered “magical thinking,” unable to work due to grief (51:54)
  • Devastating ripple effects on friends, family, and even the wider community’s sense of safety
• Memorials:
  • Scholarship created in David’s name for young Ashland musicians

7. Current Status & Ongoing Investigation (49:21–58:16)

• Case Remains Open:
  • Two new detectives assigned in 2024; “not a cold case” per Chief O’Meara
  • (50:11) “There is usually something … that police use to help solve the case. At the very least, it helps point them in the right direction. [In this case] they just don’t really have a direction…” – Mike Ferguson
• Hope for Resolution:
  • $21,000 reward for tips
  • Police believe someone still knows something, and encourage anyone burdened with information to come forward

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Randomness of the Crime:

• “Maybe there is no motive other than somebody wanting to kill somebody. Yeah, that’s not a motive that helps you narrow down things.” – Mike Ferguson (13:57)

On Ashland’s Fear:

• “People were afraid. I was afraid. I feel personally that a lot of David's case was kind of swept under the rug to keep up appearances when the reality is bad things happen everywhere.” – Garrison Ma (19:19)

On Weapon Oddities:

• “Until this case came up, I was oblivious to how many people carry machetes and how many people carry swords… It turns out an awful lot of people carry swords around for one reason or another.” – Chief Taio Meara (16:37)

On Investigative Frustration:

• “We have 15 detectives working this case. It’s still possible that this is a total and complete random act… That’s extremely rare, but it is possible.” – Chief Terry Holderness (25:50)

On Lack of Closure for the Family:

• “When she first heard about Christian De Laurentiis, [David’s mom] wanted to drive over and ask him why he did it. But over the years, she's realized there's not going to be a rational, sane reason for why whoever did this did it.” (52:57)

On the Ripple Effect of Tragedy:

• “It’s hard to calculate how many people are affected by these types of murders… People's sense of safety…” – Mike Ferguson (54:33)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• 04:13 – 08:05: David’s background, character, and musical life
• 09:23 – 13:34: Details of the murder and initial police response
• 16:37 – 17:12: Unusual prevalence of bladed weapons in Ashland
• 19:03 – 20:25: Community reaction and fear
• 25:31 – 28:51: Investigating the gaming angle
• 29:02: Community safety forum; surveillance efforts
• 35:19 – 47:42: Introduction and background of Christian De Laurentiis
• 49:21 – 50:32: New detectives, Chief won’t call it a cold case
• 51:54 – 56:44: Family trauma and community aftershocks
• 56:44 – 58:16: Hosts reflect on the case and the challenges to resolution

Conclusion & Call for Tips

This episode illustrates the tragic randomness and enduring mystery of David Grubbs’ murder. Despite a decade of investigation, no clear suspect or motive has emerged—other than the possibility of a violent drifter (De Laurentiis) who remains officially only a person of interest. The hosts highlight the devastation, unanswered questions, and urge anyone with information to come forward. The episode closes with hope for eventual resolution and justice for David and his loved ones.

If you have information:

• Ashland Police: (541) 488-2211
• Anonymous tip line: (541) 552-2333
• Email: tipline@ashland.or.us
• Tip Reward: $21,000

[End of summary | Ad sections, intros/outros omitted.]