Sex offender and roommate slain!

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.

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Wash. man arrested in killing of gay couple

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

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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

MI- Background on Scott Woodring

Posted in Related Deaths

7-8-2003 Michigan:

Scott Alan Woodring, the man who kept police at bay in Fremont, is 40 years old. He is perhaps best known to many in the Fremont area for his stringent anti-government views.

Woodring's family describe him as a "non-violent" member of the Michigan militia and said that he does not trust the government. His family says he prepared heavily for Y2K and has stock piles of food and supplies in the house.

Reports indicate his only income was from a paper route. In 1996 he ran for Dayton Township Supervisor on an anti-government campaign. His family says he is religious and would spend hours studying the bible. His past criminal record includes receiving several tickets for not registering his car.

Late Sunday night authorities tried to serve an arrest warrant for soliciting sex from a minor.

His father was quoted as saying he didn't think his son would come out alive.

State police had said all along they wanted to end the standoff peacefully but were unaware of what Woodring had inside his home as far as weapons or explosives. Police had been engaging in so-called "scare tactics" such as using armored personnel carriers to circle the house, as well as detonation devices to keep their suspect on edge. Helicopters hovered day and night for surveillance and intimidation. Police never ruled out the use of force.

Woodring's family had wanted to negotiate directly with him. They said that's the only way to prevent further bloodshed. ..more.. by WOOD TV

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Medical Examiner: Woodring shot as many as four times
7-14-2003 Michigan:

New information on the autopsy of Scott Woodring shows he was shot as many as four times. The alleged killer of a Michigan State trooper was shot and killed by police Sunday morning.

According to the Kent County Medical Examiner, the autopsy reveals that Scott Woodring died within seconds after being shot.

Woodring was hit as many as four times, in Dr. Stephen Kohl's early estimate. Twice by a shotgun and once or twice with a rifle. The shot-gun blasts were fatal. One hitting Woodring in the head, the other in the throat. Dr. Cohle says Woodring does have a wound on his arm that is consistent with police reports that say he was turning and raising his rifle towards the officers.

Other information revealed in the autopsy shows that Woodring had apparently been eating. He wasn't emaciated, but there was no food in his stomach at the time of his death.

Monday police revealed more information about the week long search for Woodring. They believe he left the house around 8:30 p.m. on Monday, July 7th. They know that because an officer saw him, but no immediate action was taken.

"At that time we had the original team, that included Kevin Marshall, and were in the process of withdrawing them and inserting a fresh team. And during that confusion is when the call was made that someone was out on the north side," said Inspector Barry Getzen with the Michigan State Police.

Police say Woodring was finally located in Brunswick Sunday morning after he spoke to someone who knew him. That person quickly called police.

Police are now focusing their attention on anyone that may have helped Woodring in his attempt to escape police. If you have any information, you're asked to call 1-800-991-8477. ..more.. by WOOD TV See Also: Target 8 Investigation uncovers new information about deadly standoff in Fremont

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Police Shoot, Kill Michigan Fugitive
7-14-2003 Michigan

FREMONT, Mich. (AP) - A fugitive who slipped away from his home during a deadly police standoff early last week was shot and killed by police Sunday morning, officials said.

Scott Allen Woodring, 40, had been charged with killing Trooper Kevin Marshall during the 40-hour standoff. He had barricaded himself in his rural home July 6 as police attempted to serve a felony arrest warrant.

On Sunday, police received a tip that Woodring was in a vehicle behind a house, about four miles southwest of his Dayton Township home.

When officers arrived and ordered Woodring to remain inside the vehicle, he emerged with an assault rifle and turned toward them, state police inspector Barry Getzen said.

Police would not say how many times officers fired at Woodring, how many times he was hit or who owned the property where he was found.

Woodring was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the earlier standoff at Woodring's home, State Trooper Kevin Marshall was shot four times as he and other officers tried to storm the house July 7. Marshall, a 33-year-old married father of two, died in surgery later that day. Police don't believe Marshall was hit by another officer's fire, Getzen said.

Woodring escaped from the home sometime between July 7, when the team tried to stormed the house, and the afternoon of July 8, when fire swept through the home shortly after police shot a percussion device into the home in an attempt to stun Woodring.

Family members have said Woodring held strong anti-government and anti-authority views. ..more.. by AP

AZ- Eighth suspect arrested in A.J. slaying

Note: Here killers believed that Charles Thomas Snyder's son molested a little girl; Charles Thomas Snyder was not a registered sex offender and was killed by mistake.

9-16-2003 Arizona:
Detectives have arrested an eighth suspect Wednesday in the slaying of an Apache Junction resident, and continue to investigate if the attack was because the suspects believed his son molested a 9-year-old girl.

Michael Daniel White, 25, of Apache Junction was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit armed burglary, kidnapping and aggravated assault, said Apache Junction police Sgt. Dick Virgil.

White is suspected of being in Charles Thomas Snyder's home when he was shot and stabbed to death Sept. 10, Virgil said. Allen Pacheco, 15, and Johnny Pacheco, 17, told detectives they went to Snyder's home looking for his 23-year-old son to "rough him up," detective Ralph Cornejo said.

Most of the other suspects didn't know the girl or the Snyders and were only there as "backup," Cornejo said. "Once the first shot was fired they were gone like cats fleeing from a dog," Cornejo said.

Allen Pacheco told detectives he decided to seek revenge against Snyder’s son when the girl told him that the son — a family friend — had sneaked into her home while Pacheco was babysitting her Sept. 9 and molested her, police said.

On Sept. 10, the group drove to the Snyder home in the 1400 block of South Grand Avenue to look for the son, who sometimes lived in a residence in back, Cornejo said. Unable to find him, seven of the eight suspects entered the main house about 11 p.m., Cornejo said.

Snyder was shot and stabbed after confronting the Pacheco brothers upon awakening, police said.

Arrest warrants were obtained for the Pachecos as a result of numerous tips. The teens then implicated the others, who also confessed, Cornejo said.

Johnny Pacheco and Allen Pacheco were charged Monday with first-degree murder, first-degree burglary and aggravated assault.

John Ransom, 18, Dave Michienzi, 22, Henry Mitchell, 21, and Fredrick Wayne Besenhofer, 21, could face conspiracy to commit armed burglary, kidnapping and aggravated assault charges. Cindy Johnson, 29, may face conspiracy to commit armed burglary and kidnapping charges.

The girl was interviewed Wednesday and authorities expect to question Snyder’s son soon, Cornejo said. ..more.. by Kim Smith