The bodies of a Washington state couple who had disappeared last month after allegedly being kidnapped and murdered by their disgruntled tenant were discovered Saturday at a military base, authorities said.
Thurston County sheriff’s deputies responded to a property owned by Joint Base Lewis-McChord Saturday afternoon for a report of a body that was found by people riding quad bikes in the area.
During the investigation, agents and military base police found a second body.
“Unfortunately, we believe Davido and Karen Koep have been located based on the preliminary investigation,” Sheriff Derek Sanders said in a statement.
The couple, both in their 60s, had not been seen or heard from in almost three weeks.
Karen Koep’s younger sister, Pauline Dutton, reacted to the devastating news with a mix of shock and relief.
Karen Koep, 63, and her husband Davido, 68, pictured with their children, were found dead on Saturday. Facebook/Karen Koep The bodies of the missing duo were discovered on property owned by Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. king5
“At first, it felt like another punch in the stomach. They made me nauseous. I became shaky and sad,” she told station KIRO7. “[but] I’m thankful. I’m grateful we were able to find them so we can now stop worrying. Stop wondering. Have a proper burial and memorial for them.”
The victims’ bodies were discovered less than a half-mile from the home rented by their tenant Timothy Burke, who was arrested last month and charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the couple’s disappearance.
Burke, 45, was about to be evicted when he allegedly shot his two landlords inside their Lacey home, Dutton previously told The Post.
The married couple has not been seen or heard from since Nov. 13, when police found pools of blood in their home. Facebook/Rachell Fairbanks Dr. Koep was a highly respected chiropractor and mother of two children. king5
The suspect then allegedly dragged Koep and Davido’s bodies to the garage, leaving a trail of blood, loaded them into the trunk of his own car and drove off to dispose of them, according to court documents cited by KOMO News.
Burke was arrested four days later, when officers found him hiding near a hiking trail.
He made his initial court appearance on Nov. 20 and was ordered held without bail after prosecutors argued he posed a flight risk and a danger to the community, station KING5 reported.
Although investigators have not revealed a motive for the cold-blooded double homicide, Koep’s sister said it may have been sparked by Burke’s impending eviction, along with his apparently deteriorating mental state.
“Apparently there were some emails going back and forth between him and Davido,” Dutton said last month. “I think he knew he was about to be evicted. He was getting really delusional.”
Flowers are left at a makeshift memorial for the murdered couple. KOMO NEWS
“He thought Davido was poisoning the water on the property. “This poor gentleman definitely had some mental issues,” he added.
Koep, 63, was a well-respected chiropractor in her community. She and her husband, 68, leave behind two children.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn