48 Hours Season 39 Episode 2: “Murder in the Parking Garage”
Air Date: October 4, 2025
Reported by: Natalie Morales
Available on: CBS and streaming on Paramount+
The gripping episode “Murder in the Parking Garage” from 48 Hours Season 39, Episode 2, covers the 2023 killing of Kenneth “Kenny” Fandrich, a 56-year-old Intel contractor found dead in his car at a company parking garage in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Background of the Victim and Suspect
Kenneth Fandrich worked as a contractor at Intel’s Ronler Acres campus in Hillsboro, Oregon, according to the Washington County District Attorney’s Office. His life took a tragic turn after discovering his wife Tanya’s extramarital affair with Steven Milner, a former veterinarian from Oregon City.
Tanya ended the affair, but Milner, 56 at the time, was unwilling to let go. He engaged in stalking and harassment behaviors, leading to a stalking protective order issued against him in March 2022. The order was based on threats Milner made, including a chilling reference to harming Fandrich’s body.
Despite the protective order, Milner persisted. He placed GPS tracking devices on the couple’s vehicles and followed Fandrich frequently, including to and from work. Having retired from veterinary practice, Milner demonstrated an alarming level of planning—purchasing vehicles under false identities to aid his surveillance efforts.
The Murder and Crime Scene
On January 27, 2023, Fandrich arrived early at work, unaware that Milner was already waiting for him. After finishing his shift, Fandrich was ambushed in the Intel parking garage. Milner approached from behind and applied a fatal chokehold, causing severe neck and spine injuries. An autopsy the following day confirmed the cause of death as homicide, ruling out natural causes.
Methods Used to Obscure the Crime Scene
The killer took deliberate steps to avoid detection. On the morning of the murder, Milner disguised himself with a face mask, tinted glasses, and a hard hat—items that would not seem out of place in a construction setting but effectively concealed his identity.
Security footage captured a figure approaching the cameras near Fandrich’s parking spot. Milner then spray-painted multiple security camera lenses with blue paint, disabling their ability to record clear footage, as reported by CBS News. However, some cameras recorded partial images before being obscured, providing crucial leads for law enforcement.
Milner parked a maroon minivan, purchased under a false name, nearby to avoid suspicion and waited for his victim. The ambush was swift and ruthless, and the disguise coupled with tampering of the cameras significantly delayed his identification, allowing him to leave quietly.
Attempts to Hide the Crime After the Act
Following the murder, Milner attempted to stage the scene to resemble a natural death. Fandrich’s body and personal belongings were placed back inside his car to suggest he had died there peacefully, potentially from a medical event. This staging was designed to slow down any homicide investigation.
The maroon minivan used during the attack was driven away from the Intel parking garage shortly afterward. Days later, it was abandoned on the side of Interstate 5 in North Portland. The vehicle was subsequently towed to a local junkyard and scheduled for crushing as scrap metal.
This move was a calculated effort to destroy any forensic evidence such as paint residues, fibers, or DNA that might tie Milner to the crime. Despite these efforts, an alert from the Oregon Department of Transportation regarding the towed minivan prompted police to respond swiftly. Unfortunately, by the time investigators reached the scrapyard, the minivan had already been crushed, reported CBS News.
The Investigation and Legal Resolution
Hillsboro police arrived promptly after coworkers discovered Fandrich’s body. Intel’s extensive network of security cameras played a critical role in the investigation by capturing footage of the disguised individual spray-painting over camera lenses.
Although some footage was obscured, enough evidence was gathered to identify Milner’s vehicle and connect him to the crime. On January 31, 2023, Milner was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, stalking, and violating protective orders.
During his trial in Washington County in January 2025, Milner claimed self-defense. However, multiple witnesses, including Tanya Fandrich, testified about Milner’s years of stalking and harassment. Evidence presented included GPS tracking devices, surveillance videos, and the fraudulent vehicle purchases.
After deliberations, the jury convicted Milner on all counts on January 23, 2025. He was sentenced to life in prison on February 18, 2025, with a minimum of 25 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Conclusion
The detailed coverage in 48 Hours Season 39, Episode 2, highlights the complexities of stalking-related violence and the sophisticated efforts used to conceal crimes. The case underscores the importance of protective orders and persistent investigative work in bringing perpetrators to justice.
Watch “Murder in the Parking Garage” on CBS or stream it now on Paramount+ for a full look into this tragic case.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/shows/48-hours-season-39-episode-2-how-killer-obscure-view-hide-crime
