11-Year-Old Girl Is Sole Survivor of Family Tragedy, Teen Suspect Detained
An 11-year-old girl is the only survivor of a brutal attack that claimed the lives of her family members in their Washington state home.
On Monday, authorities discovered the bodies of two adults and three children at a residence near Fall City. A 15-year-old boy, who also lived at the home, was arrested without any resistance.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies arrived following a 911 call, but by the time they got to the scene, the deadly violence had already ceased.
As reported by The Seattle Times, the teenage suspect is now facing five counts of first-degree murder, along with one count of attempted first-degree murder.
The 15-year-old waived his right to appear in court on Tuesday.
Although formal charges have yet to be filed, King County Juvenile Court Judge Joe Campagna determined there is probable cause for all six charges.
The teen, who seems to have no prior criminal record, was described by his defense attorney, Amy Parker, as someone who enjoys "mountain biking and fishing."
If prosecutors decide to move forward, charges must be filed by Thursday, with the teen expected to be arraigned on Friday.
The 11-year-old girl who survived was injured in the attack but is now in stable condition at Harborview Medical Center.
At this time, the King County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet released the names of the victims or the suspect, and the exact ages of the deceased have not been confirmed.
During a vigil for the family, Rhea Roberts, a youth soccer coach for a team of 8- and 9-year-olds, said one of the victims played for her team. She expressed shock, noting it was "the last family that anyone would expect this to happen to."
Investigators are still piecing together the details of the incident, which ended when the suspect peacefully surrendered. Authorities warn that the investigation could take days or even weeks to fully complete.
Several neighbors reported hearing gunshots and called 911, according to KING-TV.
FALL CITY MURDERS🚨: The teen boy taken into custody after 5 people were found dead in Fall City is expected to make his first court appearance today.@kingcosoPIO described it as a “tragic scene" — deputies finding two adults and three children dead inside a home. Law… pic.twitter.com/RHZHRmIYg7
— Savannah Welch (@svnnh_wlch) October 22, 2024
“There was no significant confrontation with the young man that was taken into custody,” King County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Mellis told The Seattle Times.
“What had happened had happened. It was done.”
Officials confirmed that firearms were involved in the tragedy.
Mellis described the killings as a "very contained tragedy," affecting only the family and others living in the home.