WA - 3 children, ages 13, 9 and 7, among 5 killed inside Fall City home, 15 y.o. in custody - 21 October 2024

[Lusitana]

I live in the area and this is morbid but today I was driving by FC and decided to drive up to where the family lived. One long road and no other in or out to get up to their house. In this PNW climate things can feel even more isolated and remote. I got an eerie feeling and the road was closed off likely due to the power outage.
I have always wondered if the shooter wasn’t in trouble for tests but that he was the one caught w *advertiser censored*, and if it was also LBTGQ content…shame can make people do very insane and cruel things and maybe this kid knowing his whole family could potentially know the details at some point, of the sin he may have thought he’d committed, perhaps he rationalized being unable to go on with their knowing that and living w the embarrassment.

I think you might be right on the money.

 

[airportwoman]

The parents of the friends were LGBTQ+. Perhaps the parents looked at that fact the way some of us might forbid our children from visiting with kids down the street whose parents are drunk everyday, cursing, fighting, known drug users, etc I certainly wouldn't have allowed my children into these types of homes, but I don't think I would have protested them being friends with the kids (my kids are all grown now).

It's also possible that the LGBTQ+ parents were off-limits to the kids for other reasons, some of which you mentioned in the next sentence.

 

[Kemug]

I tend to think that it was the accumulation of things that sent this lad "over the edge" - test results, , unallowed friends, maybe more. Constantly in trouble with his parent/s. Maybe I could even have a smidgeon of sympathy for him if he had left his siblings alone.

 

[Rosydecember]

I tend to think that it was the accumulation of things that sent this lad "over the edge" - test results, *advertiser censored*, unallowed friends, maybe more. Constantly in trouble with his parent/s. Maybe I could even have a smidgeon of sympathy for him if he had left his siblings alone.

But the fact that he didn’t leave his siblings alone leads me to believe it has nothing to do with test results, or the unapproved neighbor friends, and/or *advertiser censored*.

 

[Knox]

But the fact that he didn’t leave his siblings alone leads me to believe it has nothing to do with test results, or the unapproved neighbor friends, and/or *advertiser censored*.

He couldn't kill his parents and leave the siblings alive, they would be witnesses to murder. It was all or nothing, JMO.

I have no sympathy for him whatsoever at this point, his parents are victims. We have no idea what motivated him to slaughter five defenseless family members and attempt to kill the sister who survived.

 

[Rosydecember]

He couldn't murder his parents and leave the siblings alive, they would be witnesses to murder. It was all or nothing, JMO.

Ah, I suppose that is true. I just feel like there is more to it. Only time will tell

 

[Knox]

Ah, I suppose that is true. I just feel like there is more to it. Only time will tell

I don't disagree, just not willing to speculate. Though I did post about the topic of a sermon at their Church the Sunday before the murders on Monday. You're right, we're in for a long wait in terms of hearing factual information. If he's tried in juvenile court, it will be even more limited?

A motions hearing for the case has been scheduled for Dec. 2. The decision on whether the teen’s case will stay in juvenile court is expected sometime in the summer of 2025.

Will we learn anything new from the motions hearing next week?

 

[Rosydecember]

I don't disagree, just not willing to speculate. Though I did post about the topic of a sermon at their Church the Sunday before the murders on Monday. You're right, we're in for a long wait in terms of hearing factual information. If he's tried in juvenile court, it will be even more limited?

A motions hearing for the case has been scheduled for Dec. 2. The decision on whether the teen’s case will stay in juvenile court is expected sometime in the summer of 2025.

Will we learn anything new from the motions hearing next week?

The decision on whether the teen’s case will stay in juvenile court is expected sometime in the summer of 2025.

Seriously? That’s a long ways ahead…

 

[Kemug]

IMO, it does sometimes seem that a switch is turned on once a person has already killed, just like they go berserk.

 

[nao]

Moo...lf the other children were also unhappy maybe he thought he was bringing them peace. He didn't want them to turn into him...moo

 

[Sundog]

I’m choosing to wait for the facts in this case to be revealed. The comment early on from the unnamed source, could be untrue. Attributing that to motive and coloring Mark as homophobic, is simply wrong at this point, all MOO.

Thank you for naming Mark, one of the true victims in this horror. Mark and Sarah are victims of their deranged son. As are their other children.

 

[lovesit]

I don't disagree, just not willing to speculate. Though I did post about the topic of a sermon at their Church the Sunday before the murders on Monday. You're right, we're in for a long wait in terms of hearing factual information. If he's tried in juvenile court, it will be even more limited?

A motions hearing for the case has been scheduled for Dec. 2. The decision on whether the teen’s case will stay in juvenile court is expected sometime in the summer of 2025.

Will we learn anything new from the motions hearing next week?

Can you link the post about the sermon?

 

[girlhasnoname]

I live in the area and this is morbid but today I was driving by FC and decided to drive up to where the family lived. One long road and no other in or out to get up to their house. In this PNW climate things can feel even more isolated and remote. I got an eerie feeling and the road was closed off likely due to the power outage.
I have always wondered if the shooter wasn’t in trouble for tests but that he was the one caught w *advertiser censored*, and if it was also LBTGQ content…shame can make people do very insane and cruel things and maybe this kid knowing his whole family could potentially know the details at some point, of the sin he may have thought he’d committed, perhaps he rationalized being unable to go on with their knowing that and living w the embarrassment.

Interesting take on the location, thanks. I can't even begin to guess what was going on in this 15 yo's mind, but where you're living and house rules seems extreme for murdering your entire family. His coverup and plan to frame the 13 brother also gives me chills. Was this spontaneous or had he planned it, and for how long?

It's so hard to really discuss the case when we don't know much, hardly any, information thus far. Maybe he had MH issues, maybe there had been a long running problem that prompted the family to move out there in the first place?? Tragic all the way around regardless.

JMO

 

[girlhasnoname]

The decision on whether the teen’s case will stay in juvenile court is expected sometime in the summer of 2025.

Seriously? That’s a long ways ahead…

I believe he will be 16 at that point. JMO

 

[Seattle1]

I believe he will be 16 at that point. JMO

The delay in the decision is due to the court calendar for the required, detailed hearing which is also subject to appeal. The defendant had only recently turned 15 in Sept 2024 when he went on his killing rampage.

IN WA, the prosecutor only has 72 hours to decide to charge a juvenile as an adult (by Motion) whereas the decision to do so requires a Discretionary Decline Hearing to make this determination. The hearing will be before a juvenile court judge where the defense attorney representing the youth will argue why their case should remain in juvenile court.

Before the juvenile court can decline jurisdiction, it must find by a preponderance of the evidence that transferring the case to the adult system is in the best interest of either the youth or the public. The prosecutor has the burden of proof.

The judge must consider the eight factors established in Kent v. U.S. (see box, page 3) before making their decision. The Kent factors are intended to guide the court’s inquiry; not all need to be met. If the judge declines juvenile jurisdiction, the case is transferred to adult court.

 

[Seattle1]

Interview with a Killer Episodes | Court TV

Go inside high-security prisons and into the minds of convicted murderers in this new Court TV original documentary series.

www.courttv.com

ETA: add Dr. Heide link...

Why kids kill: How a curiosity about the minds of young murderers drove 43 years of research and education

More than four decades after she first stepped foot on the University of South Florida (USF) campus, Kathleen Heide is preparing to say goodbye. The Distinguished University Professor, who began teaching criminology at USF in 1981, will retire this year.

www.usf.edu

 

[Zinn]

I believe he will be 16 at that point. JMO

He turned 15 in September.

 

[Knox]

DBM

 

[Kemug]

Interview with a Killer Episodes | Court TV

Go inside high-security prisons and into the minds of convicted murderers in this new Court TV original documentary series.

www.courttv.com

ETA: add Dr. Heide link...

Why kids kill: How a curiosity about the minds of young murderers drove 43 years of research and education

More than four decades after she first stepped foot on the University of South Florida (USF) campus, Kathleen Heide is preparing to say goodbye. The Distinguished University Professor, who began teaching criminology at USF in 1981, will retire this year.

www.usf.edu

An amazing lady!

 

[Seattle1]

In WA State, there's an over capacity problem in the Juvenile Detention Facilities where convicted offenders are allowed to be housed in juvie hall until the age of 25 before being sent to Adult DOC. Green Hill School is struggling to handle an 'avalanche' of new offenders, according to Gov. Inslee.

Inslee is now proposing turning an unused housing unit at the state prison in Aberdeen to house 48 of Green Hill’s offenders. He said the Stafford Creek Corrections Center space would be operated by juvenile justice employees from the Department of Children, Youth, and Family Services, not Department of Corrections workers.

Earlier this year, the State attempted to rectify the situation by sending 43 inmates, over 21 but not yet 25, to Adult DOC to alleviate the overcrowding problem but the Superior Court Ordered the 43 inmates be returned back to a juvenile detention center within 14 days after a Thurston County Superior Court judge found the action was in violation of a legal settlement.

As part of that order, DCYF agreed to provide hearings and access to an attorney before young men were transferred to other correctional institutions.

No one told the 43 men they were about to be moved and they weren’t given a chance to talk to their attorneys until they were relocated to the prison.

Inslee proposes moving juvenile offenders to former adult prison unit

Green Hill School is struggling to handle an 'avalanche' of new offenders, according to Gov. Inslee.

www.king5.com

WA judge orders state to bring 43 men back to juvenile detention

Washington officials moved the men to a state prison out of safety concerns, but a Thurston County judge said they violated a recent settlement agreement.

www.seattletimes.com