A quiet Thursday morning near mile marker 42.5 on southbound Interstate 5 in rural Gold Hill, Oregon turned fatal when a 47‑year‑old man from Shady Cove, Oregon attempted to flag down passing drivers and was later pronounced dead at the scene. The victim, identified as Steven Jason Worthington, had been reported by multiple 911 callers at 8:01 a.m., prompting a swift response from local first‑responders.
Deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) and paramedics from Rogue River Fire District 1 arrived rapidly and began life‑saving efforts, but Worthington was officially pronounced deceased at 8:36 a.m. on October 30. The Sheriff’s Office later issued a statement extending “our deepest condolences” to Worthington’s loved ones, a reminder of how swiftly a rural highway can become the setting for heartbreak.
Detectives from the JCSO’s Major Assault and Death Investigation Unit (MADIU), along with the Oregon State Police and the Rogue River Police Department, joined the investigation immediately. The scene of the incident—near the intersection of Old Stage Road and Galls Creek Road in a wooded segment of Gold Hill—was secured, and southbound traffic on I‑5 was restricted to one lane while forensic evidence was gathered.
At around 10 a.m., a call came into Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO) reporting a suspicious person in the 1000‑block of Galls Creek Road. Deputies responded and found the man said to be involved in the homicide investigation. He was identified as Michael Lloyd Balestra Jr., 34, of Gold Hill, who was taken into custody without incident.
Balestra now faces multiple criminal charges: second‑degree murder, first‑degree robbery, first‑degree theft, unlawful use of a weapon, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is currently booked into the Jackson County Jail pending further proceedings. Meanwhile, authorities emphasize that while the investigation continues, there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The case remains active. MADIU—which draws detectives from multiple local and state agencies—is leading the ongoing work. Forensic units, including the OSP Crime Lab, assisted at the scene. JCSO says more information will be released when available.
In the hours following the incident, traffic resumed normal flow on I‑5 and the intersection near Old Stage Road and Galls Creek Road reopened. For the community of Gold Hill and the broader Rogue Valley area, the morning’s events serve as a somber reminder that tragedy can strike far from urban centers—and that the search for answers often begins with a 911 call and ends with law enforcement piecing together the final moments of someone’s life.
