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41 °F 5 Day Forecast Monday, December 8, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend December 6, 2003 Medford park’s ‘mayor’ died from massive loss of blood By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Although Gary Washebek spent much of his time helping Medford’s homeless, he couldn’t find help as his life ebbed away. Known as the "mayor" of Hawthorne Park, Washebek died of massive blood loss from a deep cut in the back of his leg, police told his family. After being stabbed, he sat down at a picnic bench, where he was found dead around 2:20 p.m. Monday "He did so much for other people — homeless people and that — but when he needed someone the most, no one was around," said Washebek’s mother, Luella Washebek, of Ontario, Calif. Although he suffered numerous wounds to his upper chest, legs and hands, Michael William McKercher, 33, was able to stagger away from the scene of a fight that led up to the stabbings, police said. McKercher was still recovering Friday at Rogue Valley Medical Center. Police arrested Christopher Coffin, 51, in White City about six hours after Washebek was found dead. A folding Buck knife — believed to be the murder weapon — was found in a trash bin at the Veterans Affairs domiciliary where Coffin sought treatment for a cut on his left middle finger. Advertisement Charged with murder, attempted murder, attempted aggravated murder, first-degree manslaughter and two counts of first-degree assault, Coffin remained in the Jackson County Jail without bail Friday. Investigators said they still were unsure of details behind the crime, but suspect all three men were intoxicated. One passerby saw the men in a fight, which lasted about a minute, detectives said, adding that at one point, Washebek and McKercher both were sprawled on the ground. McKercher told Washebek’s family that he and Washebek sat down next to Coffin, who was etching the top of a picnic table with the point of his knife. McKercher got up to use the park restroom, and when he returned, saw Coffin was about to hit Washebek with a piece of wood. McKercher tackled Coffin and blacked out, said Washebek’s sister, Pat Barnes, of North Carolina. "My brother always took care of himself," Barnes said. "He wouldn’t stand there and let some guy hit him with a piece of wood." Neither Washebek, 50, nor McKercher had ever seen Coffin before, Barnes said. Police said Coffin and McKercher were homeless. Washebek had been living in Medford for about three years since moving from Seattle, his family said. A drifter who worked construction jobs, Washebek most recently was living on disability after undergoing surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, his mother said. Although investigators performed an autopsy on Washebek late Wednesday, official results were not released Friday. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times