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

Three arrested for murder in relation to Kootenai County case

From staff reports
Spokane police have arrested and charged three people with first-degree murder in relation to the death of a man whose body was found recently in Kootenai County. Courts documents identify the murder victim as Mark Broadwater, 32, who was reported missing in April 2013. Arrested were: Jeffery B. Sankey, 47, Judy L. Diamond, 40, and Peter E. O’Brien, 44. All three have been booked into Spokane County Jail. Broadwater’s body was found near Fernan Lake earlier this month. His family has been notified. O’Brien told police Sankey thought Broadwater had stolen money and drugs from him, court documents show. A witness told police that Sankey and O’Brien beat Broadwater as Diamond encouraged them. Detectives found blood in the apartment where Sankey and Diamond lived. O’Brien also told police he helped get rid of Broadwater’s body in Kootenai County and then led police to the body. Bond was set for all three suspects at $2 million each. Sankey has an extensive criminal history that includes multiple convictions for possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance. He also has convictions for residential burglary, obstructing a law enforcement officers and unlawful possession of a firearm. O’Brien has eight felony convictions that include possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of a firearm. Diamond’s criminal history is limited to a conviction for two counts of misdemeanor theft.