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OOREGON CITY, Or. -- Cody James Denewith was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison on Monday for killing a former co-worker in an act fueled by jealousy.
Denewith shot Nathan Dean Anderson in the abdomen three times on April 29, 2024. Anderson, 25, of Oregon City was transported by ambulance to Oregon Health & Science University where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Investigators quickly gathered evidence that identified Denewith as the shooter. The investigation revealed Denewith believed the victim had been sexually intimate with Denewith’s girlfriend, Dominique Marie Britt. Denewith and Anderson had been co-workers at Dave’s Killer Bread.
In the days before the shooting, police responded to a domestic violence call at the Milwaukie apartment Britt and Denewith shared and arrested Denewith.
Denewith was briefly jailed. During his absence, Britt claimed she was sexually assaulted by Anderson. Denewith was “consumed by the belief that it had happened” and “fixated … on getting revenge,” said Senior Deputy District Attorney Bryan Censoni.
Denewith, 27, made his plans known to Britt three days before the shooting. He also sent text messages to some of his family members unsuccessfully soliciting their assistance in killing Anderson.
On April 29, Denewith sent Britt a text message asking her to pack him clothing and his “toy” from upstairs – their code word for a Sig Sauer P365 handgun. Britt admitted to investigators she did as he asked and delivered it to Denewith knowing he intended to kill Anderson.
Both Denewith and Britt were charged with Murder in the Second Degree, which carries a life sentence with a possibility of parole after 25 years.
Britt, 27, pleaded guilty in December to Manslaughter in the First Degree and Unlawful use of a Weapon. She was sentenced to 150 months in prison.
Denewith pleaded guilty on Monday to Manslaughter in the First Degree and Assault in the First Degree with a Firearm. He was sentenced to 240 months in prison for the manslaughter and an additional 90 months for assault. He will serve 27 ½ years, but a provision allows him to earn credit that could slightly reduce his term.
Denewith was convicted in Clatsop County in 2022 of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He was convicted of burglary in Oklahoma in 2016.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Censoni and Deputy District Attorney Tiffany Escover prosecuted the Denewith and Britt cases.
The prosecutors praised the efforts of the lead investigator, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Det. Stephen Hunter and others in Sheriff’s Office for their diligent and quick work in building the case against Denewith and Britt.
Clackamas County Circuit Court case 24CR23608 (Denewith) and 24CR24308 (Britt)
