Three won’t face death penalty

Three suspects in the homicide of a Cheney man whose body was found in the trunk of his burning Thunderbird last month face life in prison without the possibility of parole under charges filed this week.

Taylor James Wolf, 20; Justice Edward Dean Sims, 18; and Breeanna Catherine Sims, 19, have been charged with aggravated first-degree murder, which is punishable only by the death penalty or life in prison without parole.

Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty, Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Mark Cipolla said Thursday.

The Simses, who are siblings, and Wolf are also charged with first-degree kidnapping, theft of a motor vehicle and second-degree arson. Breeanna Sims also is charged with first-degree rendering criminal assistance.

The suspects are accused of killing Nicholas J. Thoreson, 22.

Thoreson was assaulted for hours and stabbed several times before he was fatally shot in the head, according to court documents. His body was found in the Thunderbird near Forker and Bigelow Gulch roads April 13.

The motive is unclear.

According to court documents, Breeanna Sims told a friend that her brother believed Thoreson had held her against her will, but Justice Sims told another person that Thoreson had told on his sister, which led to the murder.

Thoreson and Wolf, who has ties to the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, met in a Job Corps program, friends say.

Thoreson also met his girlfriend through the program. Thoreson’s family said in his obituary that his greatest joy was caring for their 1-year-old son, Thomas.

Wolf and the Simses are in custody at the Spokane County Jail.