Judge Turns Down Appeal to Unseal Documents Containing Details of Oregon Nurse Melissa Jubane Murder
A request from local media outlets to make public court documents detailing the allegations against Bryce Schubert, charged with the murder of nurse Melissa Jubane in Beaverton, Oregon, in September, has been rejected by a Washington judge.
Melissa Jubane, a nurse at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, went missing on September 4, two weeks after her wedding in Hawaii. Her body was discovered two days later.
Police Immediately Sealed Probable Cause Affidavit After Arrest
Schubert (27) was taken into custody the same day her body was found, and prosecutors promptly sealed the probable cause affidavit, which outlines the reasons for his arrest.
In October, the Portland-based news station KGW asked the court to unseal the documents, claiming the public had the right to know the contents of court records in terms of the Oregon Constitution that states ‘no court shall be secret.’ KGW’s motion was supported by The Oregonian/Oregon Live.
KGW said that as Schubert had been indicted and arraigned, sealing the documents was no longer necessary, pointing out that Schubert was not a flight risk as he was in custody in the Washington County Jail.
Prosecutors Claim Releasing Information Could Impact Investigation
However, the district attorney’s office opposed the motion, arguing that releasing the information publicly could significantly impact the ongoing investigation.
At a hearing yesterday (Monday), Washington County Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeff Lesowski said that last week the Beaverton Police Department had undertaken another search warrant in connection with the murder.
Describing the case as a ‘very active investigation,’ Lesowski said that Beaverton police were still pursuing leads and conducting further interviews. He pointed out that additional facts could still come to light, or that more defendants could be charged.
Schubert’s defense lawyer agreed that the case was still under investigation.
Judge Rebecca Guptill sided with the prosecution, stating that disclosing the affidavit would “absolutely interfere with the investigation.”
Known Facts Surrounding the Murder
The facts known to the media are that Melissa Jubane locked the front door of her apartment in Beaverton at about 6.30 a.m. on the day of her disappearance. She never arrived at work, and her car was found parked at her home.
Her body was discovered two days later, and Schubert, who lived across a corridor from Jubane, was arrested later the same day and charged with her murder. Other charges include abuse of a corpse and kidnapping.
A trial date has been set for September 9, 2025.