6 arrested in connection with Apache Hightower murder

St. Helens, Ore. — Three suspects are being charged in a Columbia County Court with the murder of Apache Rose Hightower.

Columbia County District Attorney Stephen Atchison told KGW that a grand jury has indicted Jesse Allen Lane, Stephanie Jeanne Toney and Charles William Vernon. All three appeared in court in October.

Now, KGW reports three more have been charged with hindering prosecution in Hightower murder case. 42-year-old Randall Schwirse, 46-year-old James Brewer Jr., and 38-year-old Shelley Edwards were charged on November 7^th. Edwards is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Brewer faces a charge of credit card fraud, and Schwirse is being charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Apache Hightower’s father, Jonny Bradley, told KGW, “Every day we’re one step closer to knowing what happened, and hopefully getting some closure. I’ve never known the kind of pain that I’m feeling now.”

A GoFundMe has been set up to benefit Hightower’s 11-month-old daughter she left behind.