In the storybook town of Ashland, murder is commonplace on the stages of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where swordfights are carefully choreographed entertainment and the blood that spurts is fake.

The murder of a grocery clerk nearly decapitated by a stranger wielding a sword has sent a shiver of horror through residents

But the real-life murder of a young grocery clerk nearly decapitated by an apparent stranger wielding a sword or machete has sent a shiver of horror through residents and visitors alike, and stumped investigators desperately searching for clues.

A small shrine is growing on the side of the bike path where 23-year-old David Grubbs was killed last weekend while walking home from work, the way he had countless times, just as darkness was falling.

It is an open place next to a car park where the path goes through a park with ball fields and tennis courts – and past a primary school where parents bring their small children to play.

“I’m freaking out,” said Zhawen Wahpepah, who visited the shrine with her boyfriend, August Haddick, to burn sage and leave a booklet of music that she and Mr Grubbs had played together as members of a school chamber orchestra.

She added it to the candles, flowers, carrot cake, NY Times Sunday crossword puzzle, music CDs, photos and lyrics from the song Stairway To Heaven. They were all carefully placed on the ground next to a green metal cross painted with the name ‘David’ and driven into the ground.

“I think it was a thrill kill,” said Ms Wahpepah. Mr Grubbs “was not into anything bad. He was just really shy and really nice”, she added.

“I used to walk this way home, and now I don’t any more because of this,” said Mr Haddick, who worked with Mr Grubbs stacking shelves at the Shop’n Kart grocery.

Living in the same student neighbourhood, they often walked home together, but the night of the killing, Mr Haddick’s schedule meant hewas working three hours later, so Mr Grubbs walked home alone.