Saipan native nabbed in Ore. for 32-year-old murder case

  Antonio Igisomar Wabol, a 52-year-old man arrested in Oregon late last month by Portland Police for the alleged murder of a student after an armed robbery 32 years ago, is a native of Saipan.

Golfer Jess Wabol confirmed with Saipan Tribune yesterday that Antonio Wabol is his younger brother who left Saipan for Oregon after graduating from high school in 1979.

Jess Wabol said he last saw his brother in 1974 because it was at that time when he (Jess) left Saipan to study in the U.S.

“I’m saddened, but what can we do? It’s already in the hands of federal people in the states,” he said about his brother’s arrest.

On Saipan, Jess Wabol said, his brother is more popularly known as Isidro and not Antonio.

According to Portland Police’s press release issued Jan. 25, 2012, a Multnomah County grand jury indicted that same day Antonio Wabol for two counts of aggravated murder with a firearm over the killing of Myong Su Cho.

Portland Police said that on Jan. 18, 1980, the 29-year-old Cho was shot after an armed robbery at the Plaid Pantry near the Portland State University campus.

Cho was an employee of Plaid Pantry and was a student at Portland State University.

The investigation grew cold due to the few leads that were available at the time.

In 2011, Portland Police Cold Case Homicide Unit investigator Dennis Baker, a retired detective, re-examined the case file and submitted evidence to the Oregon State Police Crime Lab.

Through the investigation, Antonio Wabol was identified as the suspect. The police statement did not indicate the evidence and circumstances that led to Wabol being identified as the prime suspect in the case. He is currently in custody at the Multnomah County Jail.

Chris Girard, president and chief executive officer of Plaid Pantries Inc., said in a statement that Plaid Pantries and all its employees highly commend the diligence and perseverance of the Portland Police in resolving this tragic event.

“Even with the lengthy passage of time, a loss such as this can never be erased for family, friends, and co-workers. The exceptional work by detectives in this case does bring a very important additional measure of closure, and a significant degree of comfort in knowing that justice ultimately prevails,” Girard said.

Portland Police Bureau’s Cold Case Homicide Unit is composed of a sergeant and four detectives who get help from retired investigators. The group, whose motto is, “We don’t give up. We never give up” is funded by a federal grant.