Jury Can’t Reach Verdict In Custody-Case Murder

A Lewis County jury was unable to reach a verdict in the death of a Longview woman, shot to death during a confrontation over custody of her grandson.

Superior Court Judge H. John Hall declared a mistrial Monday on the murder charge against Dan House of Toledo, also a grandparent of the 2-year-old boy. House and his wife had cared for the child since 1994.

House was convicted of first-degree assault for wounding his daughter-in-law, Esther House, and of second-degree assault for pointing the gun at his adopted son, Lee House, in the June 21 fracas.

Esther House’s mother - Betty Dean, 50, of Longview - was killed in the confrontation.

Two of House’s daughters-in-law sobbed in the courthouse hallway after the mistrial was declared. One of them, Becky House, witnessed the shooting and was a reluctant prosecution witness. Her mother, Theresa House, consoled her.

House could serve a maximum of 19-1/2 years in prison for the assault convictions, Deputy Prosecutor David Arcuri said.

Dan House and his wife won custody of Kevin from the boy’s parents, Lee and Esther House, in November 1994, with the parents keeping visitation rights.

But on June 21, a Cowlitz County judge awarded custody to the boy’s parents. They went to the Houses’ home that night with Dean.

When they arrived, Dan House shot over a car roof at Esther, pivoted to his right, and fired a second bullet that struck Dean in the neck, testimony showed.

Arcuri contended House had decided to shoot the victims rather than allow them to take the child.