Grants Pass

Overview

Grants Pass is a city of approximately 40,000 people in Josephine County in southern Oregon, situated along the Rogue River at the intersection of Interstate 5 and U.S. Route 199. Known for its mild climate, outdoor recreation, and proximity to the Oregon Caves National Monument, Grants Pass serves as the county seat and commercial hub of the surrounding rural region. The city's quiet, small-town character made the events of January and February 2023 all the more shocking to residents.

The Benjamin Foster case

The Season 1 premiere of the Netflix true crime docuseries Worst Ex Ever ("Dating the Devil") centers on events that unfolded in and around Grants Pass in early 2023. On January 24, 2023, Benjamin Foster — a fugitive with a history of domestic violence — attacked his ex-girlfriend in the Grants Pass area, triggering a massive law enforcement response. Foster fled into the rugged terrain of southern Oregon, initiating a nine-day manhunt that consumed the resources of multiple agencies and put the entire community on edge.

The manhunt involved the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Residents of Grants Pass and surrounding communities were warned to lock their doors and report any suspicious activity. Schools adjusted their schedules, and outdoor recreational areas in the region were temporarily closed. The search covered dense forest, rural properties, and small communities scattered throughout Josephine County.

Impact on the community

The nine-day manhunt had a profound impact on daily life in Grants Pass and the broader Josephine County area. Local businesses reported decreased foot traffic as residents stayed home. The sense of vulnerability was heightened by the region's rural character — many homes are isolated, and emergency response times can be lengthy in the mountainous terrain surrounding the city. Community members organized informal watch groups and shared information on social media about potential sightings.

The case also drew national media attention to Grants Pass, a city more accustomed to coverage of its tourism industry and agricultural economy. News crews descended on the area, and the manhunt became a leading story on cable news networks. For many residents, the experience was a jarring reminder that violent crime can touch even seemingly safe, close-knit communities.

Resolution and aftermath

The manhunt ended on February 1, 2023, when law enforcement cornered Benjamin Foster near Wolf Creek, Oregon — a small community approximately 20 miles north of Grants Pass along Interstate 5. The confrontation ended in a shootout in which Foster was killed. The resolution brought relief to the community but also prompted difficult conversations about domestic violence, law enforcement resources in rural areas, and the challenges of protecting victims in geographically isolated regions.

Changes to local policy

In the aftermath of the Foster case, Josephine County officials and community advocates pushed for improved coordination between law enforcement agencies during extended manhunt situations. The case highlighted gaps in communication between county, state, and federal agencies operating in rural Oregon. Local domestic violence organizations reported increased calls and engagement following the Netflix docuseries Worst Ex Ever, which brought renewed attention to the Grants Pass case and to the broader issue of intimate partner violence in rural communities.

The city of Grants Pass has since been associated in public consciousness with the Foster manhunt, though residents emphasize that the community's identity extends far beyond a single criminal case. The Worst Ex Ever docuseries presents the Grants Pass setting as integral to understanding the case — the isolation, the terrain, and the tight-knit community all shaped how events unfolded.