HILLSBORO, Ore. (KOIN) — Lemarr Carver, the prime suspect in the murder of his wife Tricia Carver who took his own life as law enforcement closed in, was a Marine veteran and a Beaverton defense attorney.

Tricia Carver’s body was found around 7 a.m. Monday along a gravel road near St. Paul in rural Marion County. Later that day she was reported missing to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, and that same night her car was spotted by deputies in a restaurant parking lot in Woodburn, about 7 miles from where her body was found.

An autopsy determined the 47-year-old was strangled.

Tricia Carver, in a photo believed to be taken shortly before her death, was found in a field near St. Paul in Marion County. Her death was ruled a homicide, November 7, 2018 (Marion County Sheriff's Office/KOIN)

Hours after the results of the autopsy were disclosed, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington County Tactical Negotiations Team were at Lemarr Carver’s Hillsboro home in the 6700 block of Patricia Lane SE. They used a loudspeaker making announcements over a loudspeaker, demanding he come out and used at least two flash bangs before moving in.

Once they did, they found Lemarr Carver dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 42.

Officials said it won’t be known until an autopsy is completed how long Lemarr Carver had been dead.

Tricia and Lemarr Carver were married a little more than a year ago, but were estranged at the time of their deaths. Her friends said she was a fun loving person who loved life and lit up a room. They also said she leaves behind an adult son.

Lemarr Carver's home in Hillsboro, November 8, 2018 (KOIN)

‘Had a touch of gravitas’

Lemarr Carver was a Marine veteran and a criminal defense attorney in Beaverton. His practice, Carver Law, promises “aggressive criminal defense services” on its website. The areas of his practice included “DUII, sex crimes, felonies and post-conviction relief.”

He was admitted to the Oregon State Bar in 2010 and had a clean discipline record.

Jason Brooks recently hired Carver for a case involving his son and told KOIN 6 News they spoke about a week ago. Brooks said his impression of Carver was that of a “real strong personality.”

“I got the distinct impression that he really got passionate about cases where he though somebody had been screwed over, and he struck me as the right man for a strong, rigorous defense of my son,” Brooks said. “He filled his space. He had a presence. He had a touch of gravitas.”

When he learned Carver was suspected in his wife’s death, Brooks said, “Wow.”

‘Kind of shocking to see this’

Jarred Frierson lives in the neighborhood near Lemarr Carver. He said it’s generally a quiet neighborhood.

“I’m from LA so I moved out here expecting something different,” he told KOIN 6 News. “Kind of shocking to see this.”

He didn’t really know Carver but would see them outside their home ocassionally.

“I got a newborn, so it kind of puts things in perspective for me.”

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