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

[ch_13]

It's very shameful the defense is putting down tracks to blame the victim and her memory of the events. No doubt they are also trying to build a foundation to keep a crafty teen in juvenile court. Seems to me that the defense forgot to listen to their clients own words to the 911 dispatcher. Not difficult to determine which party is the story teller here. JMO

I would imagine they don't have a choice. If the boy is insisting that his brother was the shooter, then they have to make those arguments.

But we're a long way away from any trial. The accused will eventually have to come to terms with the fact this his 'perfect crime' was a failure and he will not be walking away scot-free. I suspect he has very little idea of how advanced modern forensics are and how investigators will be able to scientifically prove he was the killer. After all, not many teens watch "Forensic Files". It will likely be on his attorneys to walk him through the evidence, show him that the prosecution has an irrefutable case, and a defense that 'someone else did it' will fail. It will be a long, arduous task for them to convince someone who may not be entirely rational, and I don't envy those attorneys.

 

[Iona]

No evidence Mom was shot in bed in the docs. Only evidence mentioned of a victim in bed was blood on blanket and pillow in upper bunk of 11F. It is implied that blood trail suggests Mom was first shot to the right of the bed in the master bedroom and later shot in the master bath.

It is interesting that none of the earliest victims were shot in bed, despite the shootings likely occurring around 4:40-4:45am.

Very interesting….

 

[Knox]

No evidence Mom was shot in bed in the docs. Only evidence mentioned of a victim in bed was blood on blanket and pillow in upper bunk of 11F. It is implied that blood trail suggests Mom was first shot to the right of the bed in the master bedroom and later shot in the master bath.

It is interesting that none of the earliest victims were shot in bed, despite the shootings likely occurring around 4:40-4:45am.

I should have said "near" the bed when shot. But initally, she was in her bed - they all were.

Tried to find a layout of the home.

King County, Washington

King County Department of Assessments: eReal Property

 

[borndem]

Multiple teenagers in a family being homeschooled isn't a good sign to me. Wasn't there a similar story from Oklahoma a few years ago?

The surviving daughter is probably not old enough, or in a suitable mental state, to care for the animals.

bbm
Hoping there are relatives who can let her live with them.
It also might be helpful for her to have one of the pets, if she wishes, to possibly help her recover a bit sooner (if that is even possible).
This is an awful and sad, sad thing.

 

[borndem]

Yikes what a dangerous individual. Only 15-years-old , allegedly: figured out how to open the lock-box with the gun, murders one after the other, stages the scene, calls 911 with his story.

Will it ever hit him, all that he has done and lost? What caused him to be this way?

bbm -- Was he tested for drugs?

 

[Zinn]

I should have said "near" the bed when shot. But initally, she was in her bed - they all were.

Tried to find a layout of the home.

King County, Washington

King County Department of Assessments: eReal Property

I do think it makes a difference that she was apparently out of bed when shot. It suggests something might have occurred prior to that at such an early hour. Was she standing by the bed because she heard a commotion of some sort? Screaming, a child running toward her room, a gunshot? Or had a child opened her door or come into the room?

If the intention was to kill everyone, it seems odd to me that none of deceased victims were in bed when shot. You’d think he’d have leveraged the element of surprise for either the boys he shared a room with or the parents, yet none of them were shot in bed.

I’m sure there are many possible reasons and I can’t know what the actual reason is, but it makes me wonder if perhaps the rampage might have been more of a spontaneous and explosive escalation of a conflict that was in progress early that morning rather than a well thought out plan of attack.

Of course, it could be as simple as mother was out of bed because she heard someone just generally active in the house and it was unusual at that hour.

 

[borndem]

There are monsters among us. It's a profound mystery how a child can do such evil. The psychiatrists will have their work cut out for them.

That being said, a "minimum sentence of 25 years" seems far too little for the heinousness of this crime. Life in prison seems more appropriate, with the understanding that he might get paroled some day.
All dependent on a conviction in adult court.

bbm
Agreed. The "minimum sentence of 25 years" doesn't come close to what it should be, IMO. Also hoping that he is tried in adult court - JMO.
He shot one, then he shot another, and another, and another, and another, and tried to kill one more. IMO, each death should be a life sentence with no parole; also a lesser sentence for his sister who was shot but survived -- assuming that he was of sane mind when he committed the offenses.
JMO.

 

[Knox]

I do think it makes a difference that she was apparently out of bed when shot. It suggests something might have occurred prior to that at such an early hour. Was she standing by the bed because she heard a commotion of some sort? Screaming, a child running toward her room, a gunshot? Or had a child opened her door or come into the room?

If the intention was to kill everyone, it seems odd to me that none of deceased victims were in bed when shot. You’d think he’d have leveraged the element of surprise for either the boys he shared a room with or the parents, yet none of them were shot in bed.

I’m sure there are many possible reasons and I can’t know what the actual reason is, but it makes me wonder if perhaps the rampage might have been more of a spontaneous and explosive escalation of a conflict that was in progress early that morning rather than a well thought out plan of attack.

Of course, it could be as simple as mother was out of bed because she heard someone just generally active in the house and it was unusual at that hour.

All sound possibilities, it would be helpful if we had the layout of the home. As I understand it, there are three different levels. First and second floors with a daylight basement? What level was the master on? Kids bedrooms all in the basement?

Wonder what time Dad was usually up for work?

 

[Bounceycat]

I do think it makes a difference that she was apparently out of bed when shot. It suggests something might have occurred prior to that at such an early hour. Was she standing by the bed because she heard a commotion of some sort? Screaming, a child running toward her room, a gunshot? Or had a child opened her door or come into the room?

If the intention was to kill everyone, it seems odd to me that none of deceased victims were in bed when shot. You’d think he’d have leveraged the element of surprise for either the boys he shared a room with or the parents, yet none of them were shot in bed.

I’m sure there are many possible reasons and I can’t know what the actual reason is, but it makes me wonder if perhaps the rampage might have been more of a spontaneous and explosive escalation of a conflict that was in progress early that morning rather than a well thought out plan of attack.

Of course, it could be as simple as mother was out of bed because she heard someone just generally active in the house and it was unusual at that hour.

Oddly, the only one shot in bed was the 11yo sister who survived, on the top bunk. Her bunkmate sister left the bed and did not survive. It sounds like they were the last two to awaken, based on her recounting of seeing her sister go into the hall and get shot. JMO

 

[Zinn]

All sound possibilities, it would be helpful if we had the layout of the home. As I understand it, there are three different levels. First and second floors with a daylight basement? What level was the master on? Kids bedrooms all in the basement?

Wonder what time Dad was usually up for work?

All three bedrooms are in the daylight basement. The walkthrough notes indicate the boys’ room and the girls’ room were to the left and right after reaching the bottom of the stairs, I assume across from each other. Father, 9M and 7F were found in that section of the hallway between the boys’ and girls’ room. Father was partially on 9M’s legs. 7F was shot after venturing out. 11F remained in top bunk. The stairs there lead up to the entry where the empty lockbox was found.

Walkthrough indicates 13M was found at other end of hall near master bedroom. Initially I envisioned one long, straight, shared hallway but one news outlet shared a guess of the floor plan based on records that made it look more like a hallway with at least two distinct sections and that didn’t square with the wording in the walkthrough so I just don’t know.

Mom was found in ensuite master bathroom.

 

[Seattle1]

All sound possibilities, it would be helpful if we had the layout of the home. As I understand it, there are three different levels. First and second floors with a daylight basement? What level was the master on? Kids bedrooms all in the basement?

Wonder what time Dad was usually up for work?

From the realty photos, it appears the master bedroom and bath is on the main level. (You can see the main fireplace here in the reflection of the mirror). Reportedly, the children's rooms were located on the lower or daylight basement level, and appears the upper level is an open loft.

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www.bexrealty.com

 

[Zinn]

From the realty photos, it appears the master bedroom and bath is on the main level. (You can see the main fireplace here in the reflection of the mirror). Reportedly, the children's rooms were located on the lower or daylight basement level, and appears the upper level is an open loft.

Florida Homes For Sale - Florida Real Estate Listings

Search real estate listings, find condos and homes for sale, and work with our unequalled Realtors throughout the home buying process.

www.bexrealty.com

Significant work to the interior was done after those photos were published and I have no idea if any of the work influenced bedroom placement but the walkthrough notes indicate the following:

- Daylight basement: 3 bedrooms, including master bedroom. at least one attached bath (boys’ room), 1 ensuite bath (master)

- Main floor: Entry, kitchen and dining area

- Upper floor: Loft, family room area

 

[GRT]

bbm
Hoping there are relatives who can let her live with them.
It also might be helpful for her to have one of the pets, if she wishes, to possibly help her recover a bit sooner (if that is even possible).
This is an awful and sad, sad thing.

It's one of the worst crimes I've heard of recently.

Hopefully, the girl will be able to shed some light on the family dynamics because there are so many stories going around.

She is strong and brave--but no child should ever have to play dead because her own brother is killing her family. I think of the typical 11-year-olds I know today, and most of them get upset over just small injuries. This little girl was shot and bleeding, and yet she found the presence of mind to play dead. That's the stuff of horror movies.

I agree that having her pets would be a huge help to her. But after all she's faced, it breaks my heart to know what lies in her future—testifying against her own brother, reliving it hundreds of times in her mind. Being virtually alone in the world—unless the brother is charged as a juvenile and gets out—is another potential nightmare for her.

The layer upon layer of this crime and its impact on the little girl is just beyond comprehension.

 

[Knox]

Significant work to the interior was done after those photos were published and I have no idea if any of the work influenced bedroom placement but the walkthrough notes indicate the following:

- Daylight basement: 3 bedrooms, including master bedroom. at least one attached bath (boys’ room), 1 ensuite bath (master)

- Main floor: Entry, kitchen and dining area

- Upper floor: Loft, family room area

Explore my links in post#283, the building permit appears to have been cancelled? Was the work ever actually done? Is that the reason for the lawsuit filed against the contractor?

 

[KonaHonu]

All sound possibilities, it would be helpful if we had the layout of the home. As I understand it, there are three different levels. First and second floors with a daylight basement? What level was the master on? Kids bedrooms all in the basement?

Wonder what time Dad was usually up for work?

According to the PCA, all 3 bedrooms are in the daylight basement

 

[Megnut]

15-year-old accused of killing 5 family members in Fall City gets private representation

The teen will no longer be represented by public defenders.

www.king5.com

 

[Seattle1]

Explore my links in post#283, the building permit appears to have been cancelled? Was the work ever actually done? Is that the reason for the lawsuit filed against the contractor?

In the realty photos (est 2019), the daylight basement is very open and much space available to convert to bedrooms whereas I don't see them messing with the main level, even if they decided not to use the existing master bedroom as built for their own MBR.

I'm not familiar with the lawsuit. I know a Contractor filed a Lien around Sept 2022 for less than $50k which was released around March 2023. I don't know what work was done but it wouldn't take much to partition a couple of bedrooms in the daylight basement. Per the County Assessor, there's no evidence of any "major" remodel or addition to the property. JMO

https://recordsearch.kingcounty.gov/LandmarkWeb/search/index?theme=.blue&section=searchCriteriaName&quickSearchSelection=

 

[Bounceycat]

15-year-old accused of killing 5 family members in Fall City gets private representation

The teen will no longer be represented by public defenders.

www.king5.com

Hmm, is someone paying for that, or is it pro bono, I wonder?

 

[vls12345]

Hmm, is someone paying for that, or is it pro bono, I wonder?

That's what I am wondering. Who is footing the bill?

 

[Megnut]

Hmm, is someone paying for that, or is it pro bono, I wonder?

Possibly family.

As horrifying as this tragedy is, he's still somebody's grandson, nephew.... brother.

And he's a child.

It's easy on the outside to render hard and fast judgment, but not so simple on the inside, where emotions sit.

JMO