‘Full of joy’: University of Portland staff remembers deceased Beaverton nurse

WASHINGTON COUNTY Ore. (KPTV) - The trial process began today for the man accused of kidnapping and killing a Beaverton woman last week.

32-year-old Melissa Jubane was reported missing last Wednesday after she didn’t show up for work at Providence St. Vincent Hospital.

A few days later, Portland Police announced they had found her remains. They arrested her neighbor, 27-year-old Bryce Schubert, who is now being charged with second-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and second-degree abuse of a corpse.

Schubert was assigned counsel at the Washington County Jail Courthouse on Monday. News crews did not see him appear in the courtroom, but he was scheduled for a check-in before a different judge at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning. A preliminary hearing was set for 4 p.m. on September 16.

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On Monday, FOX 12 spoke with faculty members from the University of Portland, where Jubane attended nursing classes until she graduated in 2018.

September Nelson is an Associate Professor at the School of Nursing and Health Innovation, and one of Jubane’s former teachers, who still remembers the way she made others feel.

“She was just super supportive of her classmates, engaged and happy to be in class and learning,” Nelson said. “She definitely was a bit of a quiet leader, she always had a little bit of sway with her students and kind of encouraged them to move along, and just so thoughtful, and just a bright spot in the classroom.”

Nelson spent the past week glued to her phone, checking for updates and filled with worry until she heard the news.

“I first heard that she was missing on social media, and just was like taken aback and couldn’t believe what was happening and honestly I was checking the feed very regularly from that day forward, maybe a little distracted,” she said.

“When I found that they had actually found her, I just was in disbelief, I just couldn’t believe that his happened to one of my students.”

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Joane Moceri, the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Innovations, said she had never personally met Jubane, but heard from others close to her that she was a ‘bright and positive spirit, just full of joy.”

“I was horrified, I was devastated, just heartbroken for her husband, for her family. Just really couldn’t believe that this could happen to one of ours,” Moceri said. “I think people have really come together and supporting one another, because even though many of us didn’t know her personally she still is one of our alums, one of our community, and I think the response has just been this outpouring of sadness and grief but supporting one another at the same time.”

She said the university has counseling available for any students or staff members who may need it.

Nelson said a celebration of life will be held on campus at some point in the near future.

“We’re all in disbelief and upset and angry, and as a mom, I also have a different perspective, I can’t imagine if it were one of my kids,” Nelson said. “Just feel so strongly for her family and her new husband and this time in her life that should have been so joyous.”

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