Homicide victim’s autopsy planned for today

Spokane police arrested two suspects in the early Sunday killing of a 50-year-old east Spokane man. A family member identified the victim as Timothy Eby, 2614 E. Third Ave., who had worked in construction. Police say the motive for Eby’s homicide was money, but he was carrying less than $10. The suspects believed the man, who was reportedly dealing drugs, would be carrying about $2,000, said Spokane Police Sgt. Joe Peterson. Detectives think the men planned to kill Eby then rob him. About 2 a.m. police received a report of a stabbing at an east Spokane address, police said. The caller was not a native English speaker, and officers had difficulty finding Eby’s residence. Once they did, they found Eby dead inside. Three hours later, detectives arrested Terry Conner, 52, and Aaron Lyon, 28, at the Bel Air Motel, 1303 E. Sprague Ave., on charges of first-degree murder. Police said $7.25 was stolen in the incident. Lyon had been living with Eby, Peterson said. Conner’s connection to the victim is unclear. Eby’s nephew, Randy Eby, said his uncle was a divorced father of three and also had stepchildren. “He was a good man and had a heart of gold,” Randy Eby said. “It was a poor time in his life.” Eby was the son of Leora Eby of Nine Mile Falls and Elmer Eby of Colbert. He has two brothers living in Spokane, James and Randy Eby. He was preceded in death by another brother, Walter, and a sister, Darla, according to Spokesman-Review records. The family moved to Spokane from Davenport, Wash., when Eby was a teenager. Police said the investigation is continuing, and the cause of Eby’s death will be determined by the medical examiner, which is planned for this morning.