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Man charged with murder after woman found dead at Salem hotel

Officers were dispatched to the Days Inn Black Bear, 1600 Motor Court NE, about 10:50 p.m

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SALEM, Ore. -- A man has been charged with murder in connection with the death of a woman at a Salem hotel.

Police were dispatched to the Days Inn Black Bear, at 1600 Motor Court NE, about 10:50 p.m. Tuesday to check on the welfare of a guest. After not getting a response from anyone in the room, they entered and found a woman dead. Her identity has not been released.

After collecting evidence at the room, Salem police began investigating the woman's death as a homicide.

They identified 25-year-old Cody Roy Hilliard as a suspect. With the help of Oregon State Police and Independence police, Hilliard was taken into custody Wednesday morning.

The investigation is ongoing.

Guest Don Bodin has stayed at the hotel for two nights, and he noticed police cars on the property before he went to bed Tuesday night. He woke up Wednesday to see the cars were still there and detectives were walking around the area.

“The whole dumpster was taped off,” he said. “The stairway that goes up to the second floor was taped off.”

He said there were rumors among hotel guests about how the woman died, but police have not confirmed any of them. Bodin said no matter what the circumstances are, he feels for the woman’s family.

“Im a Christian, so it does hurt to see this stuff go on,” he said. “Your heart has to go out to the family, And the person that’s hurt, themselves, what led her here, and caused this to happen. I have no idea what the circumstances are. It’s sad.”

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