Paul St. Claire : Washington County Cold Case Reopened by Investigators

PORTLAND, Ore. — Detectives from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office are currently investigating a cold case involving the disappearance of 52-year-old Paul St. Claire in 1996. St. Claire, who was living in the Portland metro area at the time, was reported missing under suspicious circumstances.

During the initial investigation in 1996, authorities discovered that St. Claire had been living under the alias Paul St. Claire since the early 1970s, and his real name was Lloyd Adam Buzzard.

The last person known to have seen St. Claire was Robert Stroh, a business partner with whom St. Claire had become involved in various ventures in the Portland area. Stroh, who had a history of criminal activities and multiple aliases, was described as a violent and dangerous individual by Washington County detectives.

Investigators believe that St. Claire may have formed a friendship with a female relative of Stroh, who was living with him at the time. This connection could potentially be linked to St. Claire’s disappearance, although the exact nature of their relationship remains unclear.

Furthermore, detectives suspect that St. Claire’s disappearance may be related to the unsolved murder of Stroh’s brother, David Stroh, which took place around the same time in 1996.

In the aftermath of St. Claire’s disappearance, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into the sexual assault of a teenage girl, leading them to David Stroh. David was later indicted for the assault but subsequently disappeared, with a warrant issued for his arrest.

In 1997 and 1998, skeletal remains discovered in Grant County were identified through advanced genetic genealogy as belonging to David Stroh. However, no individual has ever been charged in connection with either St. Claire’s disappearance or David Stroh’s murder.

Robert Stroh, the primary person of interest in both cases, passed away in 2013. Detectives are appealing to the public for any information related to the disappearance of St. Claire, also known as Lloyd Buzzard, and the murder of David Stroh, alias Marshall Bond. Those with relevant information are urged to contact Detective Tim Miller at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on 503-846-2690.