Robert John Hilands

A Beavercreek property owner fatally shot two strangers apparently trespassing on his forested land and hid their bodies near the front gate, authorities said Thursday.



Robert John Hilands, 33, confessed Wednesday to killing Dustin Childress and Thomas Hegar Jr. after being interviewed by investigators, said Sgt. Brian Jensen, a Clackamas County Sheriff's Office spokesman. Hilands was then booked into the Clackamas County Jail.



It's not clear why Hegar, 50, of Beavercreek and Childress, 40, described as a transient whose last known address was in Molalla, were in the area or why they went to Hilands' property, Jensen said.

Two women had dropped off the men at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the 19200 block of South Upper Highland Road, Jensen said. He initially identified the women as the girlfriends of Hegar and Childress, but later said he wasn't sure of their relationships.



At some point, Hegar and Childress went onto Hilands' property without permission, Jensen said. Fifteen minutes after being dropped off, Childress called one of the women and said the men were being shot at while running away and that Hegar was wounded.



Authorities weren't contacted until about 5:45 p.m., when one of the women reported the shooting, Jensen said. At least one of the women had gone to look for the men before the phone call, but couldn't find them, he said.

Deputies arrived and searched several properties in the area, including Hilands' after getting his permission.



The bodies were found hidden about 40 feet off South Upper Highland Road. Authorities haven't revealed how the men were concealed.

Hilands is scheduled to appear in Clackamas County Circuit Court on Thursday on suspicion of aggravated murder and unlawful use of a weapon.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey