Emma Epperly

All Stories

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘The true cost of evil’: Freeman High School shooter sentenced to 40 years in prison

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 19, 2022

Freeman school shooter Caleb Sharpe was sentenced to spend 40 years in prison Friday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘You ruined my life’: Victims confront Freeman school shooter at sentencing hearing

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 19, 2022

Nearly five years after Sam Strahan was slain in a hallway of Freeman High School, his mother let out a deep sigh before turning to face her son’s killer.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

State’s psychologist says Sharpe had no major mental illnesses at time of shooting

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 18, 2022

Freeman High School shooter Caleb Sharpe had no major mental illnesses when he opened fire on his classmates nearly five years ago, a psychologist testified Wednesday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Those connected to Freeman school shooter paint conflicting picture of his family life

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 18, 2022

Laura Franz is in the middle of a “Grand Canyon-size” divide between her Freeman community friends and her children’s half-brother, Caleb Sharpe.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Psychologist: Depression and unnoticed red flags led to Freeman school shooting

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 18, 2022

Psychologists say depression, immaturity, and numerous missed red flags led to Caleb Sharpe opening fire at Freeman High School nearly five years ago, killing one classmate and injured several others.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Former Spokane Police officer’s trial on rape charges to start Monday

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 25, 2022

Nathan Nash, 39, is charged with multiple counts of rape, along with official misconduct and unlawful imprisonment, for assaults dating back to 2019.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Five years after deadly attack, sentencing hearing begins for Freeman High School shooter

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 18, 2022

The former Freeman High School student who killed one of his classmates and injured three others should have a chance to live a meaningful life after he gets out of prison, his defense attorney argued Thursday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Incumbent Prosecutor Haskell to face Conklin in general election

Wed., Aug. 10, 2022

Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell will face nonpartisan candidate Deb Conklin the general election, after two Republican challengers failed to garner the votes need to oust Haskell.

News >  Pacific NW

WSU recent graduate Nam Nguyen wins The Diana Award for humanitarian work

Mon., Aug. 8, 2022

The recent Washington State University graduate's efforts to make societal change were recognized last month when he received The Diana Award, honoring young people for their social action or humanitarian work. The honor is named after Diana, Princess of Wales.  

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Lind bands together in aftermath of blaze that destroyed 4 homes, while ‘guardian angels’ saved others

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 5, 2022

Through his binoculars, 4-year-old Reagan Hofer watched firetrucks crisscross the hill above Lind on Friday afternoon, stopping to hose down hot spots from the fire that nearly burned down his family’s home and threatened the entire town.

News >  Local Government

Some primary races still too close to call as of Thursday

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 4, 2022

A number of races from Tuesday’s primary election remained too close to call on Thursday.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘Until you live through it, you have no idea’: Small town of Lind grieves after fast-moving wildfire levels six homes

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 4, 2022

LIND, Wash. – Many Lind residents scrambled to evacuate Thursday after a fast-moving wildfire tore through the small town.

News >  Pacific NW

Department of Health threatens to suspend Daybreak Youth Services license after treatment facility failed to cooperate with patient safety investigation

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 4, 2022

One of the only residential treatment centers for youth in Eastern Washington, Daybreak Youth Services, could lose its license after the facility failed to cooperate with a Washington State Department of Health investigation, the agency announced Tuesday.

News >  Pacific NW

Conklin leads Spokane County prosecutor race; Haskell, Collins narrowly behind

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 2, 2022

Three candidates were locked in a tight race for Spokane County prosecutor Tuesday night as the embattled incumbent Republican, Larry Haskell, faces a tough re-election bid.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Excessive speed, winds caused Pend Oreille boat crash that left 4 dead; alcohol may have played role

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 1, 2022

Excessive speed combined with gusting winds caused the Pend Oreille River boat crash that left four dead in June, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office said Monday. Alcohol also may have played a factor.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

WSP: Semitruck driver hospitalized after early morning collision with drunk driver

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 1, 2022

A semitruck driver was hospitalized after a driver accused of driving under the influence drifted into the semi’s lane of Interstate 90 early Monday morning, according to the Washington State Patrol.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Local group sends mailers urging voters to replace Prosecutor Larry Haskell, who called statements a ‘political hit piece’

Sun., July 24, 2022

Some Spokane County voters were greeted with a question when they opened their mailboxes earlier this month.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane Police officer killed in Priest Lake golf cart crash identified

UPDATED: Mon., July 18, 2022

The Spokane Police officer who was killed in a Priest Lake golf cart crash has been identified as Cpl. Jeff McCollough.McCollough, 52, had been with the police department for 22 years, according to a statement.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

20 people died in the Spokane heat wave of 2021, medical examiner says

Mon., July 18, 2022

The death total related to heat was more than the previous eight years combined, said Spokane County's medical examiner. 

News >  Education

‘Disappointed but not surprised’: Whitworth declines to define position on LGBTQ employees after first openly gay professor shares concerns

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 5, 2022

Kathy Lee is finally free, but she’s also sad.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Increase in deaths from overdoses and heatwave detailed in 2021 medical examiner report, as office expands

UPDATED: Sat., July 16, 2022

A massive increase in overdose deaths, continued COVID-19 fatalities, a heatwave that left 20 dead and new contracts from outlying counties all contributed to a growing caseload for the Spokane County Medical Examiner, according to the office’s recently released 2021 year-end report.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Months after elderly Spokane man’s death, former neighbor arrested for homicide

UPDATED: Tue., July 12, 2022

Twice on a February day, Spokane firefighters were called to a home on Rockwell Avenue where they found a 77-year-old man bruised and beaten. Now, four months after his death the man’s final statements led to the arrest of his friend for the beating that led to his death.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich announced as undersheriff for Wyoming county sheriff candidate

UPDATED: Mon., July 11, 2022

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich could have a new gig in his home state of Wyoming as the Sweetwater County undersheriff after his retirement this fall.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Survey of SPD officers, staff, reveals low morale stemming from staffing levels and support

UPDATED: Sat., July 16, 2022

Low morale at the Spokane Police Department caused in part by inconsistent leadership and understaffing has become a crisis, according to a report by officers and support staff released late last month.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Three challengers take on incumbent Larry Haskell in Spokane County Prosecutor race

UPDATED: Fri., July 22, 2022

When Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell ran for re-election the first time, he drew no challengers.