Medical Examiner confirms Amber Alert suspect died from self-inflicted gunshot wound during SWAT standoff

The Whitman County Medical Examiner on Friday confirmed that Justin P. Robertson, the man who triggered an Amber Alert after allegedly stabbing his wife and abducting their child on Tuesday, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Court documents reveal that Robertson had recently been served divorce papers and a restraining order by his wife. On Tuesday, Robertson tied her up with a phone charging cable at their Spokane Valley home, according to court documents. Robertson allegedly stabbed her multiple times after she was able to escape the cables.

Robertson’s wife, who was sent to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, declined to release her condition to The Spokesman-Review on Wednesday.

After the stabbing on Tuesday, Robertson fled with his 5-year-old son to his father’s house in St. John, where a SWAT standoff lasted roughly eight hours. Robertson released his son to authorities, but shortly after, negotiators lost contact with him.

When the SWAT team entered the house, Robertson was found dead with a gunshot wound.