Portland, OR: Dispute led to stabbing death of Northwest Portland man, another man charged with murder

A dispute that led to the stabbing death of a 40-year-old Northwest Portland man happened as his girlfriend was moving out of his apartment, according to a probable cause affidavit released earlier this month.

Mark Edward Olson was found suffering from stab wounds just after 6 a.m. on Aug. 7 in his apartment at 2151 N.W. Johnson St., in the Nob Hill neighborhood of Northwest Portland. Olson died a week later.
In the time leading up to the stabbing, Olson’s girlfriend Heather Billington packed her belongings in the apartment the couple shared and planned to move out, according to the affidavit. She told police problems had arisen in their relationship, prompting her to move out.
Billington asked David Arnold Black, 26, and Michael Alfred McCord, 39, to assist her with moving boxes out of the apartment in exchange for $30. The three then went to the apartment, and Olson arrived there at the same time.
Olson and the other three reportedly exchanged words, and McCord and Black followed Olson into the kitchen. Billington then reported hearing loud noises and scuffling coming from the kitchen. A short time later, McCord and Black fled out a living room window and down a fire escape.
When Billington went to find Olson, she said his chest was bleeding, he was holding a butcher knife, and told her, "Babe, they hurt me real bad." Olson then called 9-1-1 for help and reported he had been stabbed by "them."
Olson then lost consciousness and was taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. He died a week later, after the affidavit was written.
McCord and Black were arrested two days after Olson was stabbed as they rode bicycles past a Portland Police Bureau officer patrolling Jantzen Beach. The officer recognized the two as suspects in the stabbing and arrested them.
When they were arrested, McCord and Black were both charged with attempted murder, first degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and possession of methamphetamine. When they were arrested, police reportedly found several bags of methamphetamine on both McCord and Black.
However, after Olson died, those charges were dropped. Black is now charged with first degree murder, possession of methamphetamine, tampering with physical evidence, unlawful use of a weapon and with being a felon in possession of a weapon. He is being held in the Multnomah County jail without bail.
McCord is now charged with tampering with physical evidence and two counts of possession of methamphetamine. He is also in the Multnomah County jail with his total bail set at $51,944.