The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a double homicide on Herron Island, a small community located on the Key Peninsula in southern Puget Sound.
Deputies discovered two bodies Thursday afternoon while responding to a welfare check requested by concerned associates of the victims around 4 p.m. in the 700 block of East Herron Boulevard Northwest.
Inside the residence, deputies found a 39-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman dead from apparent stab wounds, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
The welfare check was initiated after the pair had not been seen recently and failed to report to work, raising concerns among colleagues and prompting the request for law enforcement to check on their wellbeing.
Investigators believe the victims had been deceased for approximately one week before discovery, suggesting the homicides occurred in early December.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday morning that a suspect had been located at a motel in the Kent area. When deputies attempted to make contact, the individual refused to exit the room.
SWAT teams were summoned to the scene to manage the standoff situation. When the suspect was eventually taken into custody, deputies observed he had sustained a self-inflicted wound.
The suspect was transported to a local hospital in serious condition for treatment of his injuries. His identity has not been released pending formal charges.
The Herron Island location adds complexity to the investigation. The private island community, accessible only by ferry from the mainland near Lakebay, has fewer than 300 year-round residents and limited law enforcement presence.
The week-long delay before discovery meant potential evidence degradation and a cold trail for investigators reconstructing the timeline. Determining precise time of death becomes more challenging as days pass.
The welfare check request from workplace colleagues suggests the victims maintained regular employment and their absence was noticed quickly. This workplace connection may provide investigators with timeline information about when the victims were last seen alive.
The 39-year-old man and 64-year-old woman’s relationship has not been disclosed by authorities. The age difference could indicate various relationships including parent-child, romantic partners, or roommates sharing housing.
The apparent stab wounds indicate a violent confrontation rather than a situation involving firearms or other weapons. Multiple stab wounds typically suggest close-range violence and potentially personal motives.
The suspect’s location in Kent, approximately 50 miles from Herron Island, raises questions about how he traveled from the isolated island community. The ferry system creates a limited number of departure times and routes that investigators can examine.
The motel setting in Kent suggests the suspect may have been in hiding for the week since the alleged crimes occurred. Motel staff and records could provide timeline information about when he checked in and his behavior during his stay.
The suspect’s refusal to exit the motel room necessitated SWAT intervention, indicating he was aware law enforcement sought him and chose not to surrender peacefully initially.
The self-inflicted wound discovered when custody was established could represent a suicide attempt or injury sustained during the initial crime. The serious condition designation indicates significant medical intervention was required.
The hospitalization delays the suspect’s booking into jail and initial court appearance. Serious medical conditions can postpone criminal proceedings while the individual receives necessary treatment.
Pierce County Sheriff’s detectives will work to establish motive, confirm the suspect’s connection to the victims, and reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the double homicide.
The island community’s small size means residents likely knew both victims and possibly the suspect, creating ripple effects of trauma throughout Herron Island’s tight-knit population.
