A grim discovery in Oregon has now led to an arrest across state lines.
On Monday, police in The Dalles announced that 59-year-old Richard Michael “Mike” Robinson, a local man with ties to both Oregon and Washington, had been arrested in Colorado and identified as a person of interest in the death of He “Kiki” Meihong.
Meihong’s remains were found July 29 inside a storage box tucked away in a storage unit on West 6th Street in The Dalles. Authorities confirmed that the remains were transported to the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office in Clackamas for autopsy and identification.
Meihong, who was originally from China, had been living in the Mid-Columbia area in recent months. She was last seen on May 25 in Glenwood, Washington, when her fiancé dropped her off to meet friends for a fishing trip, according to a missing person poster. At the time, she was 39 years old, though a police release initially misstated her age as 20.
Her disappearance left friends, family, and neighbors searching for answers through the early summer. Those answers began to emerge late last month when detectives, acting on leads, found her remains. In their statement, authorities stressed the case has involved a wide-ranging investigation stretching across California, Washington, Utah, Nevada, and Colorado.
The investigation ultimately led them to Robinson, who had also spent time in Klickitat County, Washington, not far from where Meihong was last seen. Police said he was arrested in Colorado on an unrelated warrant for failing to register as a sex offender. He is currently being held in the Larimer County Jail and will eventually be transferred back to Oregon.
Though Robinson has been named a person of interest, no charges have yet been filed in connection with Meihong’s death. Authorities say the investigation remains active and that they are continuing to gather evidence and follow up on tips.
For Meihong’s family, who live both locally and abroad, the news of her death has been devastating. Police said her next of kin have been notified, underscoring the human toll of a case that began as a missing persons report and has now turned into a homicide investigation.
As of now, detectives are urging anyone with information about Meihong’s movements in late May—or Robinson’s whereabouts over the summer months—to contact The Dalles Police Department. Tips can be shared by phone at 541-296-2613 or 541-296-2233, by email at Policecontact@ci.the-dalles.or.us
, or online through Tip 411.
