SEATTLE, WA – A respected chiropractor and her spouse in Washington state are suspected to have fallen victim to a deadly crime, allegedly perpetrated by a tenant who was on the verge of eviction, say local law enforcement officials.
According to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, Karen Koep and her husband, Davido, have been unaccounted for since November 13. The couple’s disappearance was noticed when a welfare check was performed at their Lacey, Washington home. Deputies were met with a gruesome scene involving two large pools of blood, indicating a possible homicide.
Further investigation revealed a strong bleach smell in the house and evidence suggesting that the victims’ bodies may have been moved to the garage.
The primary suspect in the case is Timothy Burke, 45, a tenant and reported landlord of Davido. Inside the residence, court documents found an eviction notice in progress, penned by Davido and addressed to Burke. Burke has a history of mental health issues and frequent 911 calls from his residence.
Adding to the mounting evidence against Burke, surveillance videos showed him using Davido’s debit card. Initially apprehended for identity theft, Burke was found carrying a gun. The bullets found at the crime scene matched those in Burke’s possession, court documents revealed.
Burke was eventually found and arrested off a nearby trail. Koep’s sister, Pauline Dutton, believes the looming eviction was the trigger for the alleged murders.
Although Burke has yet to be formally charged, Thurston Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer Lord stated in a Monday court hearing that a murder charge is warranted, as per The Olympian.
Following the establishment of probable cause, Judge John C. Skinder imposed a no-bail hold on Monday for two counts of first-degree murder.
Related News: Celebrated Physicist’s Final Flight Ends in Despair
In a tragic turn of events, the skies over La Jolla witnessed a heart-wrenching airplane crash that claimed the life of a distinguished physicist and veteran pilot. Michael Salour, aged 74, met his untimely demise in this unfortunate incident, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and expertise in physics and aviation.
On the fateful evening of November 15, Salour, an esteemed Carlsbad physicist, embarked on a journey from the San Francisco Bay Area to McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad. He was at the helm of a Cessna P210 Centurion, a testament to his seasoned piloting skills. However, as fate would have it, inclement weather changed his plans, leading him to divert towards Montgomery Field.
The weather conditions that evening were far from ideal, with a relentless rainstorm and enveloping fog along the coast. Despite these challenges, Salour initially attempted to land at Kearny Mesa airport, which he had to abort. Continuing his flight to the northwest, he navigated through the treacherous weather. Tragically, at around 9:30 p.m., a distressing radio communication was made by Salour, informing that the plane was running low on fuel. This was the last communication received from him, as shortly after, all contact was lost.
In the early hours of November 16, a grim discovery was made. The wreckage of Salour’s plane was located on a slope near Gilman and La Jolla Village drives. Salour was found still seated in the pilot’s seat, a solemn reminder of the tragic event.
Michael Salour was an accomplished pilot and a luminary in physics. He founded several innovative companies based in Carlsbad, including Linkatel, Tactical Air Navigation, and Integrated Photonic Technologies. His career was marked by over 30 years of pioneering work in communications and integrated photonics industries. Salour’s brilliance was further evidenced by its 19 patents in electro-optic and integrated optical technologies.
Before venturing into the entrepreneurial world, Salour had an illustrious academic career, holding research and faculty positions at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Imperial College of Science and Technology.
In the aviation world, Salour was a figure of immense respect. He had logged over 17,700 hours of flight time and held an airline-transport license. His expertise extended to various corporate and business jets and large transport aircraft, including models like DC-3, DC-9, DC-10, B-727, B-737, and B-747 airliners. Salour also possessed certifications as a flight engineer, flight instructor, and instrument flight instructor.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating this tragic accident, seeking to uncover the details of this fateful flight.