Third slaying suspect named
A third suspect was named Tuesday in the murder of a man whose charred body was found last month in a burning pile of hay and slash near Newman Lake.
Sheriff’s Detective Rob Sherar said he plans to seek a first-degree murder charge against Andrew King Salmon, 34, 18410 E. Mission Ave., in the Aug. 11 death of 42-year-old Craig Alan Schiering.
Sherar also is seeking charges of first-degree robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery.
Salmon was arrested Monday on suspicion of possessing drugs with intent to deliver and second-degree illegal possession of a firearm. A search of his home turned up two pounds of methamphetamine, nearly a pound of cocaine, $5,500 in cash and two revolvers.
Although detectives believe Salmon supplied the gun and drugs that led to Schiering’s murder, the revolvers found in Salmon’s home were not related to the murder, according to sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan.
Salmon remained in jail Tuesday night along with two other suspects in Schiering’s murder: Ezra M. Jensen, 22, who is charged with first-degree murder, and Christopher James Hall, 32. Originally charged with second-degree murder, Hall now is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree theft and second-degree possession of stolen property.
According to a search warrant affidavit, Hall said Salmon “fronted” him a half-pound of methamphetamine that Schiering had arranged to buy on the night he was killed. Jensen claimed Salmon also gave Hall the pistol that Hall used to shoot Schiering.
Other court documents say Hall claimed Jensen shot Schiering in the side of the head while Schiering was driving them to a secluded location to conduct their drug transaction. Jensen allegedly acknowledged that he and Hall had planned to rob Schiering of the $4,700 Schiering told Hall he would pay for the half-pound of methamphetamine.
Sherar’s affidavit indicates witnesses said Hall claimed Schiering had robbed him of $2,700 at gunpoint a few days before Schiering was killed. Hall allegedly told the witnesses that Schiering “made it good” the next day and that their dispute had been “handled.”
After the murder, Hall allegedly told detectives, Jensen took Schiering’s money, leaving Hall to explain to Salmon “how he had lost the methamphetamine and the money,” Sherar stated in the affidavit filed Monday.
Hall also said Jensen took Schiering’s gun, which they found under the seat of Schiering’s pickup, according to the affidavit. Jensen reportedly said he gave the 9 mm pistol to John Wesley “Animal” Rose, 44.
Jensen said Rose hid the weapon in a box under Rose’s mobile home at 19201 E. Boone Ave., according to court documents.
New documents, filed Tuesday, indicate Rose’s home was searched Thursday for evidence in Schiering’s murder. Methamphetamine, a digital scale and drug paraphernalia were seized, but no weapon was found.
Jail records indicate Rose has not been arrested.
Schiering had been awaiting trial on a vehicular homicide charge.
He was accused of running over and killing an acquaintance, Brett Leroy Hollenbeck, after the two exchanged words at a North Division gasoline station where they had arranged to meet at 2:40 a.m.