Man Held In Double-Murder Probe

Tue., July 16, 1996

Compiled From Wire Services

A 41-year-old man was arrested and booked into Pierce County jail Monday on investigation of two charges of first-degree murder in this city’s Hilltop area.

A 54-year-old man and a 30-year-old man were found dead at the Roosevelt Towers Apartment Monday morning, Tacoma Police spokesman Jim Mattheis said.

A woman who was visiting the apartment called the police after she knocked on the door and a man covered with blood answered, Mattheis said.

The man had left by the time police arrived, he said.

Police found the body of the 54-year-old man in the bedroom and the other man in the kitchen. They have not released information on how the men were killed.

The older man was renting the apartment which, Mattheis said, was known as a hangout for drug users and prostitutes.

No motive has been established yet, he said.

The 41-year-old man was questioned and arrested by police after they found him about 40 minutes later, Mattheis said.

An arraignment date has not been set.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.