Posted in Related Deaths ---- See earlier article about community protests as to Markvardsen and his fight in the courts to get Megan's Law declared unconstitutional, and taken down, but he lost that fight and was ultimately murdered (See below). (Posted in Related Deaths)10-10-2003 Washington:
COLVILLE, Wash. -- A convicted sex offender and his roommate were shot to death at close range with a shotgun in their remote cabin in the Onion Creek area, officials said. The Stevens County Sheriff's Office on Thursday identified the victims as Russell Charles Markvardsen, 52, and Matthew Lee Raynor, 32. Both lived at the home where their bodies were found Tuesday night.
The men previously lived in a log home that was destroyed in a May 2002 fire that authorities investigated as a possible arson. At the time, the men told The Spokesman-Review newspaper they suspected arson because of possible prejudice against their homosexuality. ..more.. : by Associated Press.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10-17-2003 Washington:
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. (AP) | Police and sheriff’s deputies arrested a 32-year-old man Saturday in connection with the slayings of two men at their remote cabin in Stevens County. Richard L. Keenum was arrested at gunpoint shortly before noon as he tried to sneak away from the Valley Assembly of God Church in Spokane Valley, Cpl. Dave Reagan of the Spokane County sheriff’s office said.
Police and deputies had been observing the building after receiving information from authorities in Stevens County and Sandpoint, Idaho, about telephone calls made by Keenum from Spokane.
Stevens County authorities had said they had probable cause to arrest the man in connection with the slayings of two men four days before. Russell Charles Markvardsen, 52, and Matthew Lee Raynor, 32, were shot to death at close range with a shotgun in their cabin in the Onion Creek area.
The two men previously lived in a log home that was destroyed in a May 2002 fire that authorities investigated as a possible arson. At the time, the men told the Spokesman-Review newspaper in Spokane that they suspected arson because of possible prejudice against their homosexuality. ..more.. ALSO: See Google Book
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Washington state prosecutor Jerry Wetle sought the maximum sentence of 67 years, which was handed down last week, for Richard L. Keenum, accused of killing a gay couple in their remote cabin last fall.
COLVILLE, Wash. (AP) — Richard L. Keenum will serve at least 50 years in prison for the execution-style murders of two men in a remote cabin last October. Keenum, 32, insists he found Matthew L. Raynor, 32, and his roommate, 52-year-old Russell C. Markvardsen dead when he arrived to burglarize their home in the Onion Creek area, north of Colville. “I did not kill Russell Markvardsen, and I did not kill Matt Raynor,” Keenum said at his sentencing last week.
A jury convicted Keenum of two counts of first-degree murder earlier this month. Members of Raynor’s family joined prosecutor Jerry Wetle in calling for the maximum sentence of 67 years. Stevens County Superior Judge Rebecca Baker rejected court-appointed defense attorney Lorinda Noble’s request for a minimum sentence of 53 years.
Under state law, Keenum must serve at least 50 years. No motive was suggested for the slayings, but several witnesses said Keenum had made comments about disliking gays. Markvardsen and Raynor were partners. ..Source.. by The Express
No comments:
Post a Comment