The bodies of a Washington state couple who went missing last month after allegedly being kidnapped and killed by their disgruntled tenants were found at a military base Saturday, authorities said.
Thurston County sheriff’s deputies responded to property owned by Joint Base Lewis-McChord Saturday afternoon for a report of a body found by a person riding a quad bike through the area.
During the investigation, deputies and 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, have not been seen or heard from for almost three weeks.
Karen Koep’s younger sister, Pauline Dutton, reacted to the heartbreaking news with shock and relief.
Karen Koep, 63, and her husband Davido, 68, pictured with their son, were found dead Saturday. Facebook/Karen Koep The bodies of the two missing men were found on property belonging to Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. King 5
“At first, it felt like another punch to the gut. I started to feel nauseous. I became shaky and sad,” he told station KIRO7. “[but] I am thankful. I am thankful that we were able to find them so we can now stop worrying. Stop wondering. Have a proper funeral and memorial for them.”
The victims’ bodies were found less than half a mile from the home that had been 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 on the verge of being evicted when he allegedly shot both of his hosts inside their Lacey home, Dutton previously told The Post.
The couple have not been seen or heard from since November 13, when police found a pool of blood in their home. Facebook/Rachel Fairbanks Dr. Koep is a respected chiropractor and mother of two. King 5
The suspect then allegedly dragged Koep and Davido’s bodies to the garage, left a trail of blood, put them in the trunk of their own car and drove off to dispose of them, according to court documents cited by KOMO News.
Burke was arrested four days later, when deputies found him hiding near a hiking trail.
He made an initial court appearance on November 20 and was ordered held without bail, after prosecutors argued that he was a flight risk and a danger to the community, KING5 station reported.
Although investigators have not released a motive for the cold-blooded double murder, Koep’s sister said it may have been sparked by Burke’s impending eviction, coupled with his seemingly deteriorating mental state.
“Apparently, there were some emails going back and forth between him and Davido,” Dutton said last month. “I think he knew that he was going to be kicked out. He’s getting delusional.”
Flowers were left at a makeshift memorial for the murdered couple. COMO NEWS
“He thought that Davido was poisoning the water in the property. This poor man must have a mental problem,” he added.
Koep, 63, is a well-respected chiropractor in his community. She and her 68-year-old husband are survived by two sons.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
