Bio

Jeffrey Dale Tiner was born on May 16, 1958. He grew up in a small community in Oregon. As a child, he had a difficult upbringing, which shaped his life in significant ways. Not much is publicly known about his early family life or education.

Tiner spent some of his formative years in California. During that time, he was known to have had a troubled adolescence. His interactions with peers and authority figures were often problematic. He struggled with fitting in and faced challenges that led him to make poor choices.

At a certain point in his life, Tiner had brushes with the law. He was convicted of various offenses that put him into the criminal justice system. During his time in prison, he reportedly developed strong feelings about issues like child abuse and violence.

After his release, Tiner had a relationship with a woman named Karlyn Eklof. Their relationship would later draw him into a significant crime that would change everything for both of them. Tiner's early life experiences and challenges played a crucial role in shaping the person he would become.

Murder Story

On March 15, 1993, Jeffrey Dale Tiner murdered James Salmu in Lane County, Oregon. Tiner's girlfriend had falsely accused Salmu of being a child molester. After a pizza party, Tiner and his girlfriend argued with Salmu, leading to an attack on him. Tiner then brutally assaulted Salmu, using a combination of beating, stabbing, and shooting. Following the murder, Tiner disposed of Salmu's body in a remote area of the Cascade Range.

For nearly two years, Salmu's body was not found, but authorities discovered it in November 1994, near a logging road. Meanwhile, Tiner was arrested in May 1994 for unrelated issues while in prison in Nevada. Tiner was connected to the murder through testimonies and physical evidence that pointed to Hay’s involvement. In 1996, he was indicted for aggravated murder.

The trial began in June 1997. Tiner's girlfriend, Karlyn Eklof, was also charged and later convicted of aggravated murder. Tiner was found guilty and sentenced to death on November 17, 2000. He claimed to have acted from a desire to avenge child abuse, a motive rooted in the false accusations made by his girlfriend. Tiner remains on death row.