Missing Fil-Am nurse found dead, neighbor faces murder charges

Melissa Jubane (left) and Bryce Johnathan Schubert. Photos from @iamlegacy23/X

A Filipino American nurse from Oregon, who went missing after returning home from her Hawaii wedding, was found dead Saturday. Her neighbor was arrested and charged with murder, police said.

On Sept. 4, 2024, 32-year-old Melissa Jubane, a nurse at St. Vincent Hospital in Southwest Portland, failed to show up for her morning shift and was reported missing. 

She had just returned from Hale’iwa in Oahu, where she got married to Bryan Llantero last August 24. 

After not hearing from Jubane for days, her family, friends and co-workers started to worry and reported her to the police as missing.

In a Facebook post, the Beaverton Police Department confirmed receiving a welfare check request at around 10:18 a.m. after several unsuccessful attempts to reach the Fil-Am nurse.

The man accused of killing Beaverton nurse Melissa Jubane was a nurse at another Portland hospital. https://t.co/4C3YgPsUgA

— KOMO News (@komonews) September 9, 2024

Arriving at her residence at SW 160th Avenue in Portland, the police officers conducted a search but Jubane was nowhere to be found. There were no signs of foul play inside her unit, the police said.

The police officers and family members continued to reach out to her, but her phone stayed off. A review of her credit card and bank records showed no clues either. 

Jubane’s husband had last contacted her around 6 p.m. on the day she failed to report to work, according to KHON. 

Her sudden disappearance after their wedding drew more questions among family and friends.

A public Facebook group, “Find Melissa Jubane case Discussion and Updates,” was set up on Aug. 26 to help search for the Fil-Am nurse. 

By 3:12 p.m. on Sept. 4, she was officially entered into the national law enforcement systems as a missing individual.

Investigators later identified a possible suspect, 27-year-old Bryce Johnathan Schubert, her neighbor. 

Schubert, who was also a nurse and a former Providence Portland Medical Center employee from September 2022 to October 2023, was arrested after investigators found evidence linking him to Jubane’s disappearance.

Missing Person – Melissa Jubane Investigation Update pic.twitter.com/OVHJUBsRWh

— Beaverton Police (@BeavertonPolice) September 7, 2024

Schubert has been charged with murder. 

“While we acknowledge the significant community interest and concern, we must withhold further details to preserve the integrity of the investigation,” the Beaverton Police Department said in a Facebook update.

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Community mourns 

Following the news of Jubanes’ death, there was an outpouring of love from colleagues, friends and the health care community. Many have placed flowers near her apartment.

#BryceShubert, the neighbor and killer of #MelissaJubane is expected to make his first appearance in a Washington County court tomorrow. He will be arraigned at 2pm. pic.twitter.com/plfqWTkVcB

— 𝕏 🕵🏻‍♀️🦋L̤̮E̤̮G̤̮🅰️C̤̮Y̤̮🦋🕵🏻‍♀️ 𝕏 (@iamlegacy23) September 9, 2024

“She was just very, very sweet, very kind,” said Halina Brant-Zawadzki, one of Jubane’s former professors, recalling her compassion and service as a student nurse.

To commemorate her legacy, the Oregon Nurses Association organized a vigil on Sept. 10 at the Ridgewood View Park in Portland. 

The Beaverton Police Department is gathering more evidence and has urged the public to come forward with any information related to the case. The department can be reached at (503) 526-2280.