1998 murder suspect looks murder victim's mother straight in the eye

1998 murder suspect looks murder victim's mother straight in the eye

Dale Wayne Hill enters the courtroom Friday in Roseburg, Ore.

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By Melica Johnson KATU News and KATU.com Staff

ROSEBURG, Ore. - The family of 14-year-old Stephanie Condon waited more than 10 years for this day - for the man accused of kidnapping and murdering the Douglas County teenager to face charges in her death.

On Friday, 39-year-old Dale Wayne Hill was arraigned in a Douglas County court.  He faces three counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder and one count of kidnapping and is being held without bail.

In October of 1998, Stephanie Condon disappeared from her aunt's house in Myrtle Creek where she was babysitting.  The twins she was watching were found asleep in their beds and the teenager's backpack and belongings had been left at the house, untouched.

For more than 10 years, no one knew what happened to her.  Then, in March of 2009, a hiker found her remains along an old logging road and that led police to arrest Hill, who had always been a person of interest in the case.

How the young girl ended up dead, and why, is the question on everyone's mind and her family is hoping Hill's trial will provide answers, even though Stephanie's brother admits it is hard to say if Hill is really her killer.

"With everything going on, it's hard to say 100 percent," Martin Condon said.  "But if there is anything he knows, he knows something about it."

As he walked into court and took his seat, Hill looked Condon's mother, Christine Condon, straight in the eyes.

"No chills, just a lump in my gut," she said.  "I was glad that he saw me and knew I was here for Stephanie and representing her because she can't be here. And I wanted him to know that."

With Stephanie's accused killer back in Douglas County, the family hopes to find answers.

"Justice for my sister is the most important thing right now," said Martin.  "Like my Mom said, we found her, we have her home and now we just need to bring justice for Stephanie."

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