Man who went on fatal rampage near Woodburn was high on meth and alcohol, tests show

A man whose rampage with an ax left four dead near Woodburn had methamphetamine, alcohol and marijuana in his system, according to toxicology results released Thursday by the Oregon Medical Examiner’s Office.

Mark Leo Gago, 42, was fatally shot at the scene by Clackamas County sheriff’s deputies.

On Jan. 19, Gago killed his mother, Pamela Denise Bremer, 64, his stepfather, Jerry Bremer, 66, his girlfriend, Shaina E. Sweitzer, 31, and their 9-month-old daughter, Olivia Lynn Rose Gago at the family’s rural home.

Dr. Sean Hurst, acting chief medical examiner, said the amount of alcohol in Gago’s system was below the legal limit of intoxication. He said individuals respond differently to meth.

“That being said, methamphetamine has profound physiological and psychological effects, so I would consider that the individual to be under the influence of that drug at this concentration,” Hurst said.

Gago’s roommate, Tracy Burbank, and an 8-year-old girl survived. Burbank ran next door for help and told a neighbor that Gago had attacked the family with an ax.

Gago and the victims shared the home in the 32000 block of South Barlow Road in an area surrounded by farmland near the border with Marion County. A Facebook page appearing to belong to Gago described him as a self-employed, in-home caregiver.

One of the victims was found outside the home. Deputies then heard screams coming from the residence, where they found Gago attacking the 8-year-old girl, officials said. After killing him, deputies discovered the other three bodies inside the home.

Oregon court records show Gago had two prior assault cases, in 2001 and in 2005, which were dismissed. Police said he had been arrested in August for unlawful possession of a firearm and was booked into the Clackamas County Jail.

-- Noelle Crombie

503-276-7184

@noellecrombie

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