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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Information sought in West Central cases

From Staff Reports

Police continue to investigate two unrelated homicides in the West Central Neighborhood on Friday.

The first victim, found in an alley near West Bridge Avenue and North Cannon Street around 9 a.m., was identified as David “Brandon” DePonte, 28, in a Saturday news release from the Spokane Police Department. Anyone who has information about his recent activity or this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

Police were still looking for a suspect in the second homicide: Tony Callihan, 38. The second victim, identified only as a woman in her 40s, had been dating Callihan and was found dead Friday afternoon in a home near West Broadway Avenue and North Nettleton Street, the release said.

Callihan is dangerous, police said, asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to call Spokane police immediately. He is thought to be driving the victim’s car, a light green 2000 Dodge Stratus that can appear gray. The license number is 474-WRH.

Man allegedly steals presents under trees

Spokane police arrested a man Friday for allegedly stealing Christmas presents from underneath people’s trees in Spokane’s South Hill.

Kyle P. Murphy, 26, was booked into the Spokane County Jail on suspicion of residential burglary. 

Around 12:30 p.m., a resident in the 2800 block of South Manito Boulevard reported a suspicious-looking man who was possibly casing homes.

Cpl. Kevin Keller arrived just in time to see the man in a home’s backyard after he came out the broken back door, carrying a pack full of loot, according to a Spokane Police Department news release.

The homeowner was able to identify items stolen from inside his home in the pack.  The suspect also had stolen goods from other recent burglaries, police said.

Three other victims reported their homes were broken into that morning on West 13th Avenue, and officers say they matched Murphy’s footprints to those crime scenes. 

Murphy has an extensive burglary record and was just released from prison, police said.  The Department of Corrections also had a warrant for Murphy’s arrest on burglary charges.