# The Francke Case: A Cover-Up Exposed | Portland News

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/portland-oregon-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7476712/the-francke-case-a-cover-up-exposed-portland-news
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/portland-oregon-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7476712/the-francke-case-a-cover-up-exposed-portland-news.md
Podcast: [Portland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!](https://stenobird.com/podcast/portland-oregon-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7476712)
Published: 2026-07-20T05:40:15+00:00
Episode link: https://sources.thednn.ai/04f3253e406a2a64
Audio file: https://api.fastcast.ai/audio/fdafb2b5-ce92-4c83-9dc5-e53f2e425a76.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/portland-oregon-news-today-2-min-news-the-daily-news-now-7476712/episodes/the-francke-case-a-cover-up-exposed-portland-news
Duration seconds: 116

## Resource

For over 35 years, journalist Phil Stanford has relentlessly pursued the unsolved 1989 murder of Michael Francke, Oregon’s former corrections director, whose death may have been tied to exposing departmental corruption. In his new book, Stanford lays bare a shocking two-part conspiracy: one to silence Francke and another to frame an innocent man. He cites federal court rulings that call the original investigation a “railroad job,” citing fabricated evidence and coerced testimony—all without physical proof linking the suspect to the scene. Despite calling himself “plodding,” not “obsessed,” Stanford insists the case remains Oregon’s most serious unsolved crime in half a century, with systemic cover-ups and political resistance blocking justice. He urges authorities with subpoena power to reinvestigate, as current state police are embroiled in lawsuits over their botched probe. The case, he argues, is emblematic of a culture of corruption and deceit that thrived in Oregon’s late 1980s government. Listen in comfort: Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN: advertise@thednn.ai This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting. Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai. View sources & latest updates: https://sources.thednn.ai/04f3253e406a2a64

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