The morning of September 4, 2024, started like any other at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland. But there was a glaring, quiet problem. Melissa Jubane, a 32-year-old nurse known for her unwavering punctuality and "beautiful smile," hadn't clocked in for her morning shift.
She just wasn't there.
Initially, her coworkers and family hoped it was a misunderstanding. Maybe a flat tire. Perhaps she overslept after the whirlwind of the last few weeks. Melissa had literally just returned from Hawaii where she married her longtime boyfriend, Bryan Llantero, in a ceremony that friends called the highlight of her life. They had been together for a decade. She was a newlywed. She was happy. She was exactly where she wanted to be.
When she didn't answer her phone, the concern turned into a cold, sharp panic.
The Search for Melissa Jubane
Beaverton Police arrived at her apartment complex off Southwest 160th Avenue and Baseline Road later that morning. They found her car still parked in the garage. Her wallet, keys, and bag were missing from the unit, but there were no signs of a struggle. Her phone was off. By that afternoon, the case was officially upgraded to a Melissa Jubane missing person investigation.
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Friends and family didn't wait. They organized search parties, scouring the "quiet and calm" neighborhood of Beaverton, handing out flyers to anyone who would listen. They even used bloodhounds. Nothing.
It felt like she had simply evaporated.
Then, the investigation took a dark turn. On September 6, just two days after she vanished, police announced they had found her remains. They didn't say where right away, but they did say who they had in handcuffs: Bryce Johnathan Schubert, her 27-year-old neighbor who lived just down the hall.
Who is Bryce Schubert?
The arrest of Schubert sent a second shockwave through the community. He wasn't just some random stranger; he was someone she likely saw in the hallway or the mailroom. Even more unsettling was his background. Schubert was also a nurse. He had worked at Providence Portland Medical Center from 2022 to 2023.
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Imagine that. A person trained to heal and care for others was now being charged with the most "deliberately cruel" acts imaginable.
Prosecutors eventually filed documents that painted a terrifying picture. While the specific probable cause affidavit remains sealed to protect the integrity of the trial, court filings revealed that the state plans to argue that Schubert used a weapon and that his actions were significantly more heinous than a "typical" murder. They’ve gone as far as to state they believe he cannot be rehabilitated.
The Legal Standstill
You might be wondering why this isn't over yet. Honestly, the legal system is slow, especially when the charges are this heavy. Schubert has pleaded not guilty to charges including:
- First-degree murder
- First-degree kidnapping
- Second-degree abuse of a corpse
The trial was originally supposed to happen sooner, but it’s been pushed back. As of early 2026, the trial is slated to begin in March. The delay stems from the sheer volume of evidence the defense has to review, plus the fact that Schubert's attorneys were tied up with other homicide cases in Coos County.
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It’s frustrating for the family. A year after her death, a memorial was held at a park in Hillsboro where friends remembered her not as a victim, but as the "UP Pilot Nurse" graduate who made everyone around her feel safe.
Why This Case Still Matters
The tragedy of the Melissa Jubane missing person case isn't just about the crime itself; it's about the loss of a woman who was a pillar of her community. She was the kind of nurse where, if you saw her on the schedule, you felt like everything was going to be okay.
Her husband, Bryan, an active member of the U.S. Navy, had just returned to duty in Washington when this happened. One week he was celebrating his wedding; the next, he was losing his wife.
Actionable Insights for Personal Safety
While you can't always predict the actions of others, there are things we can learn from how this case unfolded:
- Trust the "Check-In": Melissa’s coworkers saved critical time by calling for a welfare check immediately. If someone reliable misses a shift or a meeting without word, don't wait 24 hours. Act.
- Neighborhood Awareness: We often think of "stranger danger," but many incidents involve people in our immediate orbit. Knowing your neighbors is good, but maintaining boundaries and being aware of who has access to your building is vital.
- Digital Footprints: Police used bank and credit card activity to narrow down the timeline. In missing person cases, these digital breadcrumbs are often the only way to track movement after a phone goes dark.
The community continues to support the family through a GoFundMe that raised nearly $100,000, which helped with the sudden, crushing expenses of such a tragedy. As the 2026 trial date approaches, the focus remains on getting justice for a woman whose life was taken just as her newest chapter was beginning.
If you or someone you know is in a situation where you feel unsafe in your own living environment, reach out to local advocacy groups or law enforcement. Keeping an eye out for each other is the best way to honor Melissa’s legacy of care.