It was three years ago this month that we were awakened about 6AM with the persistent loud noise of helicopters and airplanes flying low overhead. Our first thought was "what the heck", why don't they quit flying overhead, and don't they have any respect for people trying to sleep? Later that morning we came to find out there had been a triple homicide in a neighborhood home just around two corners from us. How spooky is that!
It was particularly sad, as a mother and two teenaged sons were the victims, and one son was an acquaintance of our son (took the same bus to school). We thought it odd that the police were reassuring saying there was no lingering danger in the neighborhood, seeing they didn't have a suspect identified or anything.
About three weeks later the police arrested a suspect and the news media reported the sordid details, including the motive. Turns out the victim's husband was having an affair with the suspect's wife, and the suspect struck back by killing the innocent mother and kids. They traced cell phone records to place the suspect near the crime scene at the time of the murders, and also a few hours later when the husband returned. (I don't know why he didn't just kill the husband instead of or in addition to.)
Detectives and forensic experts were at the home for many days after the murder. There was a large quantity of flowers and other memorabilia piled on the yard from all the classmates and friends mourning the victims. For many months the house fell into disrepair, with several back fence sections collapsing. Finally, someone fixed the fence and cleaned up some things, but I believe the house remains vacant still (house photo above). It is sobering to drive by the house nearly every day and be reminded of the tragedy.
Here is a link with some of the official information on the case. The trial hasn't been scheduled yet, to my knowledge. Perhaps someday an accomplished crime author will write a book about the case.
http://www.co.washington.or.us/sheriff/media/beth3hom.htm
It was particularly sad, as a mother and two teenaged sons were the victims, and one son was an acquaintance of our son (took the same bus to school). We thought it odd that the police were reassuring saying there was no lingering danger in the neighborhood, seeing they didn't have a suspect identified or anything.
About three weeks later the police arrested a suspect and the news media reported the sordid details, including the motive. Turns out the victim's husband was having an affair with the suspect's wife, and the suspect struck back by killing the innocent mother and kids. They traced cell phone records to place the suspect near the crime scene at the time of the murders, and also a few hours later when the husband returned. (I don't know why he didn't just kill the husband instead of or in addition to.)
Detectives and forensic experts were at the home for many days after the murder. There was a large quantity of flowers and other memorabilia piled on the yard from all the classmates and friends mourning the victims. For many months the house fell into disrepair, with several back fence sections collapsing. Finally, someone fixed the fence and cleaned up some things, but I believe the house remains vacant still (house photo above). It is sobering to drive by the house nearly every day and be reminded of the tragedy.
Here is a link with some of the official information on the case. The trial hasn't been scheduled yet, to my knowledge. Perhaps someday an accomplished crime author will write a book about the case.
http://www.co.washington.or.us/sheriff/media/beth3hom.htm
I'll never understand that perp's logic (or any criminal's logic). How did murdering those innocent people help anything? He has 5 kids of his own whose father will probably get life in prison. Last I heard the trial should start in January. It was delayed a long time because of other legal issues, including whether the perp's estranged wife could be called on to testify of things he said to her when she visited him in jail (it was ruled those conversations are legally private).
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