2 days ago
Wall Street heir 'murdered' stranger celebrating wedding anniversary
A widow is suing her late husband's alleged killer's business tycoon father.
Bradley Cole, 69, died last May outside of Ashley Inn & Suites in Lincoln City after he was allegedly assaulted by Roland Evans-Freke, 31.
In a lawsuit filed by Bradley's wife, Debra, seen by Oregon Live, the alleged killer is said to have had a history of being hospitalized inside psychiatric units.
Evans-Freke's father, Stephen, a former Wall Street investment banker worth some $25million, is named as a defendant in the suit.
The filing alleges that the hotel and Stephen were both negligent in failing to intervene and prevent Evans-Freke's 'worsening violent outbursts'.
Debra and her husband had been at the hotel to celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary, with Bradley leaving to walk their dog on the grounds.
The suit alleges that Evans-Freke had been outside smoking a cigarette before he reportedly approached Bradley, demanding he hand over the dog.
After Bradley refused, Evans-Freke is accused of punching and kicking him for several minutes before making off with the dog.
Debra, who was still inside their hotel room, went to investigate after her husband failed to return after 30 minutes.
She claims she saw their dog with a stranger (Evans-Freke) and asked him why he had the pooch.
After he refused to give the dog up she unclipped the dog's collar from the leash and took the pet back to her room.
Upon going back outside Debra found her husband motionless on the sidewalk with a bloodied face, according to the lawsuit.
She said she pointed the man out to two other people who wrestled Evans-Freke to the ground as she called 911.
The suit adds that two officers struggled to handcuff Evans-Freke and had to use a stun gun on him before taking him into custody.
Court records seen by the outlet also say that Bradley's right ear was severed and he had stopped breathing as he lay on the ground.
The suit alleges that the hotel and Evans-Freke's father were both negligent in failing to intervene and prevent his 'worsening violent outbursts'.
It adds that Stephen had both 'enabled and encouraged' his son's behavior since his early years.
The suit says the father had paid to have his son trained by a three-time world boxing champion, despite his son's history of 'violent' behavior.
It is claimed that this behavior extended to an obsession with fighting and martial arts, as well as a collection of knives and guns.
The suit said that Evans-Freke moved to Oregon in 2022 and his father paid for him to live in a hotel after finding out his son was staying in a homeless camp.
In December 2023, his father tried to have him committed to a psychiatric hospital but his petition was denied, the suit adds.
Evans-Freke was then arrested for allegedly trespassing in Lincoln County, and acting in an 'incoherent' way, the filing said.
At a Comfort Inn in Newport staff had also contacted Evans-Freke's father after he was seen talking to himself and carrying knives around the hotel, it is alleged.
A court report says that Stephen had said his son was suffering from severe paranoia, was 'very violent', and was being told by voices in his head to kill someone.
In April of last year he was staying inside the Ashley Inn with staff receiving numerous complaints about his behavior, the suit said.
Debra, who is seeking at least $20million in damages, accuses the hotel and Stephen Evans-Freke of being liable for abuse of a vulnerable person due to Bradley's age.
OregonLive reported that if a jury agreed to that allegation alone the damages would triple under a state law.
Speaking with the outlet, Debra said that she filed the suit so what happened to her husband doesn't happen to anyone else.
Evans-Freke stands accused of the second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault, and robbery of Bradley in the parking lot of the hotel.
He has been held inside a state hospital since his arrest last May, after being found unfit to aid in his defense, Oregon Live reported.
At a commitment hearing on Wednesday it was revealed that Evans-Freke suffers from schizophrenia, but he said he does not believe he is unwell, the outlet said.
His defense lawyer said he has suffered a long-standing mental illness and had not been on consistent medication.
Daily Mail approached the Ashley Inn & Suites hotel and a representative for Stephen Evans-Freke for comment.
