Oregon Cold Case Collective
Active Cases
Identified After 50 Years
Winston Arthur Maxey III
In July 1971, the body of a teenage boy was discovered in Snedden Creek, a rural area of Coos County, Oregon. When the tragic discovery was made, three teenagers were moving horses between pastures on private property. Due to the condition of the remains and lack of identifying information, the boy became known as “Frog Boy.” His true identity remained a mystery for more than 5 decades. His death remains under active investigation.
That same summer, I was born to teenage parents who were just 15 years old. Shortly after my birth, I was placed for adoption. My adoptive parents always told me I was adopted, and my adoptive dad, Dennis, fully supported my desire to find my biological family. Tragically, Dennis passed away in a commercial plane crash in 1987 when I was only 16 years old.
I began searching for my birth family at the age of 12. By 17, using money I had saved for a senior trip to Europe, I hired a private investigator, known as Mr. X. Within hours, he located my birth mom. That summer, in 1988, I met her and began building a relationship. Later that year, during my Senior year of high school, I spent Christmas with her. It was then that she told me the name of my biological dad and gave me a framed photo of him. From that moment on, I was determined to find him.
Despite years of searching, I could not locate my birth father. In 2016, I turned to social media, creating the page, “Where in the World is Winston Maxey?” I also reached out to Crystal from Eastern Idaho Cold Cases to help share my dad’s story. That same year, I attempted to file a missing persons report with the National Missing and Exploited Children. However, because I had been adopted and was not legally recognized as his child, and because his family had never reported him missing, authorities could not list him as missing.
In 2021, I received a life-changing call from CeCe Moore, an investigative genetic genealogist with Parabon NanoLabs. She shared that there was a John Doe case from 1971 in Coos County, Oregon, and she believed he might be my birth dad. I uploaded my DNA to GEDmatch, and it was confirmed, the boy known for decades as “Frog Boy” was my biological dad, Winston “Wint” Arthur Maxey III.
After 50 years, Wint finally had his name back, and his case remains open and active as investigators continue working to find answers and put his case to rest.
Have a tip regarding Wint’s death? Please call:
Coos County Sheriff’s Department Tip Line: 541-396-7800.
On the evening of August 31, 1991, 38-year-old Frank Jay Pettingill left his summer home in his 1974 Chevy GMC. He told his wife, Mary Ann, that he was going into town to pick u a TV Guide from Curtis Mathes and hobby glue from Fred Meyer. When he didn’t return home, Mary Ann, reported him missing two days later on September 2, 1991.
That same day, mushroom pickers discovered a body in the Blue Ridge Road area. The remains were later identified as Frank Pettingill. An autopsy confirmed he had died from homicidal violence - the weapon has never been recovered.
Frank was the manager of Hallmark Fisheries, and his death shocked the local community. As word spread, witnesses came forward with key observations. Several reported seeing a blonde female with Frank in his truck at Fred Meyer on August 31. The same woman was seen again on September 1 near the South Jetty at Bastendorff Beach in Charleston, where she had reportedly gotten Frank’s truck stuck in the sand. Witnesses said she was searching for biker friends she believed was on the beach. She was later seen hitching a ride to the Blue Moon bar in Coos Bay.
At the Blue Moon, witnesses reported seeing her in conversation with individuals associated with the Outsiders and Gypsy Jokers motorcycle clubs. This was the last known sighting of the unidentified woman. It is unclear whether either motorcycle club was involved in Frank’s murder.
DNA evidence, possibly belonging to the unidentified female, was recovered from the crime scene. However, it has never been matched to anyone in CODIS, (Combined DNA Index System), the national database used to compare DNA profiles from violent crimes.
Additionally, the unidentified woman reportedly took three professional stunt kites from Frank’s truck.
Have a tip regarding Frank’s death? Please call:
Coos County Sheriff’s Department Tip Line: 541-396-7800.
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1. Renegade
Pink, Purple & Teal
2. Fire Dart
Orange & Pink
3. Fire Dart
Pink & Red (NOT pictured)
Unidentified Female
Age: estimated 30 to 35 years old at the time
Height: 5’4 to 5’5
Weight: Approximately 110-115 lbs
Build: Very thin, with a narrow, weathered face and slight overbite at the time.
Hair: Shaggy, shoulder-length sandy blond/brown, straight parted in the middle.
Notable Features: Rough, weathered hands, short fingernails, possibly wore a ring.
Clothing: Dark, waist-length jacket, ripped or acid-washed jeans (knees cut out)
Accessories: Red or orange bandanna, olive-drab green duffel bag with cord, shoulder bag, other soft bags, and possibly camping gear/clothing.
Frank Jay Pettingill