Wounded Couple Released From Hospital

Fri., June 16, 2000

From Staff

A married couple wounded in a shooting that claimed one life earlier this week were released from Deaconess Medical Center on Thursday.

Clint and Kim Fritchman both were shot in the face during an altercation with a neighbor on Tuesday. Ronald D. Faulkner of Curlew was killed by a gunshot wound to the head.

Francis Cota, 46, was captured early Wednesday after a manhunt in the Curlew area.

Cota made a preliminary appearance Wednesday in Ferry County Superior Court and was ordered jailed on $500,000 bail for investigation of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Sheriff Pete Warner has said the four Curlew residents were longtime friends who had been drinking together on Tuesday. They began arguing after their dogs got into a fight.

Warner said Cota reportedly kicked a dog that belonged to one of the victims, and words were exchanged. Cota walked to his house, came back with a gun and shot the victims, Warner said.

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.