LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — An 86-year-old pastor is at the center of murder investigations in Kentucky and Oregon after authorities ruled the deaths of two of his wives, decades apart, were homicides.
John Bridges has been married five times, including his current wife. Four of his wives have died, though authorities have only ruled the deaths of Joyce "Mable" Bridges and Astrid Bridges as homicides. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of his other wives have not resulted in homicide findings.
The first case dates back to July 1972, when John Bridges said he found his wife, Joyce "Mable" Bridges, unresponsive at their home on Bent Oak Court in Louisville.
Her death was initially ruled an accident. But after police received new information, her body was exhumed in 2015, and medical examiners ruled her death a homicide. The case is now being investigated by Louisville Metro Police's Cold Case Unit, which renewed its call for the public's help in the case July 24.
More than 20 years later, in July 1993, John Bridges called police again — this time in Gresham, Oregon — saying he found his second wife, Astrid Bridges, unresponsive outside their home.
Like Joyce Bridges, Astrid Bridges' death was also initially ruled an accident. Neighbors said they believed she fell while cleaning the gutters.
Authorities with the Gresham Police Department have since ruled her death a homicide.
"We consider her husband at the time, John Bridges, to be a suspect in her murder," said Detective Adam Wright of Gresham Police.
Within the last few weeks, police searched John Bridges' Missouri home and interrogated him. LMPD said they will not confirm whether he is a suspect in Joyce Bridges' case.
John Bridges has not been charged.
"I don't think we believe him to be a danger to anyone other than maybe a current wife," Wright said.
John Bridges is currently married with children. Gresham Police said John Bridges used to work as a pastor, and video shows him preaching in California as recently as last year.
The department has spoken with his family throughout this process, Wright said.
"They obviously have complicated feelings about where things are," Wright said.
Wright also confirmed Gresham Police is working with LMPD on both cases.
"It's been a really great cooperation having them working with us side by side to get justice both for Astrid and for Mable Bridges," Wright said.
Both departments are asking anyone who has information on the case or knows the family to contact them.
Anyone with information in this or any other case is encouraged to call LMPD's anonymous Crime Tip Line at 502-574-LMPD (5673). Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the department's online Crime Tip Portal by clicking here.
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