Two suspects in the first murder case in the city of Sammamish’s history has been arrested in British Columbia, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office.
Kevin D. Patterson, 20, was named as a suspect in the case Wednesday after Sammamish Police were called to a home at the intersection of Audubon Park Drive Southeast and Southeast 26th Place, south of Discovery Elementary School, just after noon where they discovered the body of a man. Evidence inside the home led police to label the death suspicious.
Patterson and a 18-year-old second suspect both were arrested in Abbotsford, British Columbia on Wednesday, according to King County Sheriff’s Spokesperson Sgt. DB Gates.
The identity of the second suspect will not be released until he is formally charged with a crime by Canadian authorities, Gates said.
An autopsy of the victim is expected to be conducted and released Thursday afternoon by the medical examiner’s office, she said. When asked for the identity of the victim, Gates deferred to the medical examiner’s office.
The Sheriff’s office had released a photograph of Patterson on Wednesday along along with a description of a car, a 2013 dark green BMW 328, bearing Washington Wildlife tag WW00333. The tag had an eagle head design on it. The car also was recovered.
Officials said that Patterson holds dual citizenship from Canada and the United States. Sheriff’s detectives are in Canada now to continue the investigation.
Patterson and the second suspect are currently being held in Canada on charges of possession of stolen property with a value exceeding $5,000, Gates said. King County prosecutors will pursue extradition for both suspects, a process that could take months. The issue of Patterson’s dual citizenship adds another “wrinkle” to the process, Gates said.
The presence of police and crime tape spread across the neighborhood had residents in the 23100 block of Southeast 26th Place worried Wednesday.
“It’s very scary,” Doral Patel said, watching the police work from her front lawn a few houses up the road. “I live in the neighborhood, I am home all of the time…I was cooking all day this morning, I did not hear a thing.”
Sammamish was incorporated in 1999 and has never had a homicide.
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Original story
As parents waited to pick up half-day students from a nearby elementary school Wednesday afternoon, Sammamish and King County authorities were investigating what officials believe to be the first recorded murder in Sammamish city history.
Police were called to a home at the intersection of Audubon Park Drive Southeast and Southeast 26th Place, south of Discovery Elementary School, just after noon on Sept. 17 to do a welfare check, Sammamish Police Chief Nathan Elledge said.
On arrival, police discovered a deceased male inside the residence. Evidence inside the home led police to label the death suspicious, calling in the King County Major Crimes unit to assist, Elledge said.
Since incorporating in 1999, Sammamish has never had a recorded murder, Elledge said. At this time, police believe the alleged murder to be an isolated incident.
Coming out into what is normally a quiet suburban neighborhood left neighbors shaken.
“It’s very scary,” Doral Patel said, watching the police work from her front lawn a few houses up the road. “I live in the neighborhood, I am home all of the time…I was cooking all day this morning, I did not hear a thing.”
While the investigation is ongoing as of press time Wednesday, police are looking for a vehicle missing from the residence, King County Sheriff’s Spokesperson Sgt. DB Gates said.
The vehicle is described as a 2013 blue BMW 328, bearing Washington Wildlife tag WW00333. The tag has an eagle head design, Gates said. (Ed. note: officers on scene initially described the vehicle as dark green.)
Anyone who sees the vehicle or has information for police is urged to call 911 immediately.
Reporter editor Craig Groshart contributed to this story.
Below: Sammamish Police Chief Nathan Elledge talks about the city’s first-ever murder. Bryan Trude, Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter
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Crime scene tape marks a home at the intersection of Audubon Park Drive Southeast andSoutheast 26th Place, south of Discovery Elementary School. Bryan Trude, Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter