Offender Record · OFF-2026-166
Sebastian Shaw (photo from the Radford University biography)
Sebastian Alexander Shaw
Also known as Chau Quong Ho, Joe, Tony, Ito
Sex
Male
Race
Asian
Height
5'5"
Hair
Black
Eyes
Brown
Born
1967
Custody
Deceased
States
OR, MO, CA, VN
Distinguishing featuresOregon Department of Corrections DOC record listed him at 5'5", 190 lbs.
Custody
Shaw died in Oregon State Penitentiary custody on October 3, 2021, after serving 21 years (Oregon Department of Corrections confirmed).
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Sebastian Shaw, born Chau Quong Ho in Vietnam in 1967, was convicted of three murders and one sexual assault in Portland, Oregon. He was convicted of the aggravated murders of Jay Rickbeil in July 1991 and of Donna Ferguson and Todd Rudiger in July 1992, and of the rape and attempted murder of an 18-year-old woman in 1995. Shaw pleaded guilty to the Ferguson/Rudiger murders and the 1995 rape on February 18, 2000, and was convicted of Rickbeil's murder on April 17, 2006. He was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences without parole and died in Oregon State Penitentiary custody on October 3, 2021, at age 53.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Jul 02, 1991, Portland, Oregon
Aggravated Murder
Multnomah County, Oregon · Multnomah County Circuit Court · Arrested Feb 21, 1998 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole
Jay Rickbeil, 40 years old, was a quadriplegic with cerebral palsy. Shaw entered his Portland home and slashed his throat with a knife on July 2, 1991. The victim bled to death from the neck wound. Shaw was initially acquitted of this charge before trial in May 2004, but the decision was overturned on appeal, leading to a retrial and conviction in 2006.
SourcesSebastian Shaw (serial killer); Oregon Serial Killer Sebastian Shaw Dies In Prison; SHAW, Sebastian Alexander; Sebastian Shaw (serial killer); Sebastian Shaw
Offense date Jul 17, 1992, Portland, Oregon
Aggravated Murder
Multnomah County, Oregon · Multnomah County Circuit Court · Arrested Feb 21, 1998 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Life imprisonment without parole
Todd Rudiger, 29 years old, was stabbed in the neck and bled to death on July 17, 1992. Rudiger and his partner Donna Ferguson were killed in their Portland mobile home trailer. Rudiger's hands and feet were bound with telephone cords. Shaw pleaded guilty on February 18, 2000, and was sentenced on February 22, 2000.
SourcesSebastian Shaw (serial killer); SHAW, Sebastian Alexander; Sebastian Shaw (serial killer); Sebastian Shaw; Who Was Sebastian Shaw? What Happened to Him?
Offense date Jul 01, 1995, Portland, Oregon
Rape and Attempted Murder
Multnomah County, Oregon · Multnomah County Circuit Court · Arrested Feb 21, 1998 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: 30 years (concurrent with life sentences); charged as Aggravated Attempted Murder
On July 1, 1995, Shaw broke into an 18-year-old woman's apartment in Southeast Portland and subjected her to violent sexual assault. He attempted to murder her but the victim fought back fiercely, forcing Shaw to abandon the murder attempt. The woman survived and was able to identify Shaw. Shaw pleaded guilty on February 18, 2000.
SourcesSHAW, Sebastian Alexander; Sebastian Shaw (serial killer); Who Was Sebastian Shaw? What Happened to Him?
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
3
Victims convicted
0
Victims confessed
10
Victims suspected
Active years
1991–1995
Victim profile
Strangers, Young women, Men
Stated motive
Anger or revenge, Sexual
Range from home
regional
Confessed
Yes
Education
high school
Marital history
Never married
Children
0
Military discharge
medical
Died
2021-10-03 · natural
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
San Ramon Police Department · CA
Arrested Shaw August 31, 1994 in stolen vehicle with murder kit; released same day
Multnomah County District Attorney's Office · OR
Prosecuted Shaw for aggravated murders (1991-1992) and rape (1995); convicted 1998-2006
Oregon State Police · OR
Notified of Shaw's in-custody death; investigates cause of death per protocol
Oregon Department of Corrections · OR
Held Shaw at Oregon State Penitentiary from February 2000 until death October 2021
Investigated 1991-1992 murders of Rickbeil, Ferguson, and Rudiger
Source: Wikipedia, Murderpedia
Alameda County District Attorney's Office · CA
Declined to charge Shaw in Jenny Lin case (2007) despite identification as prime suspect
Source: SF Gate
Alameda County Sheriff's Office · CA
Investigated Jenny Lin 1994 murder; named Shaw prime suspect in 2006; continues cold-case review
Source: CBS San Francisco
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
CA
California
approx. 1985 – 1990 · Moved to California to live with aunt and cousin after 1985 altercation with father
San Bernardino, California
approx. 1993 – 1994 · Enrolled at California State University in San Bernardino; worked as security guard at California court of appeals
San Ramon, California
Aug 30, 1994 – Aug 30, 1994 · Arrested August 30 or 31, 1994 while sleeping in stolen 1978 Pontiac Bonneville; found with 'murder kit' and stolen firearms from San Ramon burglary; released after two weeks when charges were dropped
MO
Japan, Missouri
approx. 1986 – 1990 · U.S. Marine Corps service; stationed in United States and Okinawa, Japan; applied for honorable discharge in 1990 at age 22 due to inability to maintain weight standards; received medical discharge · marines
OR
Oregon
approx. 1975 – 1985 · Moved to Oregon with father Van; lived at Marine Corps base camp in Pendleton, CA August-November 1975; moved to Woodburn, Oregon at age 14; attended high school
Portland, Oregon
Oct 1990 – Jul 1991 · Security dispatcher for Paragon Cable Company; hired October 5, 1990; fired July 2, 1991 after sexual harassment complaints; legally changed name to Sebastian Alexander Shaw while employed here
Portland, Oregon
approx. 1992 – 1994 · Security guard employment
Portland, Oregon
approx. Feb 1995 – 1998 · Courtesy clerk at Safeway store on Hawthorne Boulevard; hired February 4, 1995; problems with female employees; terminated 1998
Portland, Oregon
Feb 21, 1998 – Feb 21, 1998 · Arrested February 21, 1998 (per Wikipedia) or February 20, 1998 (per other sources) outside library after DNA from discarded cigarette matched 1992 murders and 1995 rape
Salem, Oregon
Feb 22, 2000 – Oct 03, 2021 · Oregon State Penitentiary; entered prison February 22, 2000 after conviction; served 21 years; died October 3, 2021 at age 53
VN
Phước Tây, Quảng Ngãi Province, Vietnam
approx. 1967 – 1975 · Born in Phuoc Tuy Province, Republic of South Vietnam
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
1978 green Pontiac Bonneville – Stolen vehicle from San Ramon, California
approx. 1994 – 1994
Found in Shaw's possession August 30-31, 1994 with 'murder kit' containing ski mask, surgical gloves, duct tape, knives, binoculars, plastic handcuffs, pistol, two rifles
Timeline
Nov 28, 1967
Chau Quong Ho born in Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam.
Aug 1975
Moved to United States, lived at Marine Corps base in Pendleton, California.
Nov 30, 1975
Age 8; sponsored by group from Port Arthur, Texas to move to Texas.
1985
Age 17; after fight with father Van, moved to California to live with aunt and cousin.
1986
Age 18; joined U.S. Marine Corps.
1990
Age 22; applied for and received medical discharge from Marine Corps due to weight standards; returned to Oregon and legally changed name to Sebastian Alexander Shaw.
Oct 05, 1990
Age 22; hired as security dispatcher for Paragon Cable Company in Portland, Oregon.
Jun 1991
Co-worker Shirley Phillips reported Shaw twice for inappropriate comments and sexual harassment.
Jul 02, 1991
Age 23; murdered Jay Rickbeil, 40, by slashing his throat in Portland, Oregon. Committed after being fired from Paragon Cable.
Jul 17, 1992
Age 24; murdered Donna Ferguson, 18, and Todd Rudiger, 29, in Portland, Oregon; Ferguson was raped before being killed; both stabbed in throats in their trailer home.
Aug 30, 1994
Age 26; arrested in Portland after police found Shaw sleeping in stolen 1978 Pontiac Bonneville; 'murder kit' discovered; released after two weeks when charges dropped.
Jul 01, 1995
Age 27; broke into apartment and raped 18-year-old woman in Southeast Portland; attempted to murder her but victim fought back.
Feb 21, 1998
Age 30; arrested outside Portland library after DNA from discarded cigarette butt matched 1992 murders and 1995 rape.
Feb 18, 2000
Pleaded guilty to murders of Donna Ferguson and Todd Rudiger, and to rape and attempted murder of 18-year-old woman in 1995.
Feb 22, 2000
Sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for Ferguson and Rudiger murders, plus 30 years for 1995 rape; entered Oregon State Penitentiary.
Apr 17, 2006
Convicted of aggravated murder of Jay Rickbeil in 1991; jury voted 9-3 for death penalty but unanimous vote required; sentenced to third life sentence without parole.
May 24, 2007
Alameda County prosecutors decide not to file charges against Shaw for 1994 murder of 14-year-old Jenny Lin; Shaw was primary suspect but no direct physical evidence.
Oct 03, 2021
Age 53; died in Oregon State Penitentiary custody after 21 years of incarceration.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
Other · Radford University, Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Shaw, Sebastian“Sebastian Shaw biography compiled by Kim Maners, Ashley Nasca, and Eliza White with timeline of life events and criminal history.”
News report · Murderpedia ·
Sebastian Shaw“Portland police arrested Shaw again in 1998 after DNA obtained from a discarded cigarette butt linked him to the July 1992 killings of Donna Ferguson, 18, and Todd Rudiger, 29, and the rape of a Portland woman in June 1995.”
News report · Serial Dispatches ·
SHAW, Sebastian Alexander“On February 22, 2000, Shaw was sentenced to 2 life terms for the murders of Ferguson and Rudiger. He also got 30 years for the 1995 sexual assault, deemed aggravated attempted murder.”
News report · Grokipedia ·
Sebastian Shaw (serial killer)“Shaw was arrested on February 21, 1998, outside a library in Portland following a tip related to the 1995 rape case, where DNA evidence linked him to the crimes.”
News report · The Cinema Holic ·
Who Was Sebastian Shaw? What Happened to Him?“In 2000, Sebastian Shaw pled guilty to Donna and Todd's murders in addition to the 1995 rape. For that, he was handed down two life sentences without the possibility of parole.”
News report · CBS San Francisco ·
Prime Suspect In 1994 Cold Case Murder Of Jenny Lin Dies In Oregon Prison“Alameda County prosecutors have decided not to file charges against Shaw for the 1994 murder of 14-year-old Jenny Lin. Shaw is the primary suspect in the murder.”
News report · Oxygen ·
Oregon Serial Killer Sebastian Shaw Dies In Prison“Sebastian Shaw, 53, was convicted for the murders of Donna Ferguson, 18, Todd Rudiger, 29, and Jay Rickbeil, 40, in the 1990s.”
News report · KDRV 12 News ·
Oregon serial killer, active in the 1990s, dies in prison“53-year-old Sebastian Shaw, who was serving three life sentences at the state penitentiary, died on the morning of October 3.”
News report · KOIN 6 News ·
Convicted murderer, rapist dies in prison after 21 years“The Oregon Department of Corrections said Sebastian Shaw died in Oregon State Penitentiary custody on Saturday. Shaw entered prison in 2000 after a conviction in Multnomah County.”
News report · Wikipedia ·
Sebastian Shaw (serial killer)“Sebastian Alexander Shaw (born Chau Quong Ho; November 28, 1967 – October 4, 2021) was a Vietnam-born American serial killer and rapist responsible for at least three murders in Portland, Oregon, between 1991 and 1992.”
Offender registry · Find a Grave ·
Sebastian Alexander Shaw (1968-2021) - Find a Grave Memorial“Initially convicted with two life sentences, Shaw entered Oregon DOC custody in February of 2000 with no release date, and a third life sentence was added for Rickbeil's murder.”
News report · My Life of Crime ·
Serial Killer: Sebastian Alexander Shaw – killed 3+ victims“Offender Name: Shaw, Sebastian Alexander Age: 48 Gender: Male Height: 5′ 05" Weight: 190 lbs DOB: 11/1967 Race: Asian Or Pacific Islander Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Location: Oregon State Penitentiary Status: Inmate”
News report · SF Gate ·
ALAMEDA COUNTY / D.A. won't charge suspect in 1994 slaying“Alameda County prosecutors have decided not to charge the man identified by sheriff's investigators as the prime suspect in the 1994 stabbing death of a 14-year-old Castro Valley girl.”
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