Teen Accused of Killing Family in Washington State May Face Adult Charges
Nov 05, 12:00 AM
Prosecutors are pushing to try a 15-year-old boy as an adult after he was accused of murdering his parents and three siblings in their Fall City mansion earlier this week. If his case remains in juvenile court, the unidentified teen could be released by age 25, but in adult court, he faces the possibility of life in prison.
The horrific incident unfolded on Monday when deputies responded to a 911 call around 5 a.m. at the family's $2 million home on Lake Alice Road. Inside, they discovered the bodies of Mark Humiston, 43, his wife Sarah Humiston, 42, and three of their children, ages 7, 9, and 13. All had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. An 11-year-old daughter survived despite being shot in the hand and neck; she managed to escape through a window and alert neighbors.
According to charging documents obtained by local media, the teenage suspect allegedly plotted to stage the massacre as a murder-suicide carried out by his 13-year-old brother, whom he also killed. Investigators claim he attempted to make it appear as though his brother had committed the rampage after being caught watching inappropriate content online.
Detectives allege the teen placed a pistol in his deceased brother's hand to support the staged scenario. The surviving sister told authorities that her older brother used their father's handgun to kill their family members. She recounted waking to gunshots and witnessing her brother shoot her siblings before turning the weapon on her.
Prosecutors revealed that the teen had recently faced academic troubles, failing tests at school and getting into significant disciplinary issues. Defense attorney Amy Parker described her client as a caring individual with no prior criminal history, emphasizing his interests in mountain biking and fishing. "Multiple people in the community have reached out to us who know our client, and they have attested to his good character," Parker said during a court hearing on Friday.
The teen has been charged with five counts of first-degree aggravated murder and one count of first-degree murder. He is currently detained at the Clark Child and Family Justice Center in Seattle. King County prosecutors argued that the severity of the crimes warrants moving the case to adult court, where the penalties are more severe.
A judge is expected to decide on January 8, 2025, whether the teen will be tried as an adult. If convicted in juvenile court, he can only be held until he is 25 years old. The community and legal observers await the decision, which will significantly impact the length of his potential sentence.
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The horrific incident unfolded on Monday when deputies responded to a 911 call around 5 a.m. at the family's $2 million home on Lake Alice Road. Inside, they discovered the bodies of Mark Humiston, 43, his wife Sarah Humiston, 42, and three of their children, ages 7, 9, and 13. All had suffered fatal gunshot wounds. An 11-year-old daughter survived despite being shot in the hand and neck; she managed to escape through a window and alert neighbors.
According to charging documents obtained by local media, the teenage suspect allegedly plotted to stage the massacre as a murder-suicide carried out by his 13-year-old brother, whom he also killed. Investigators claim he attempted to make it appear as though his brother had committed the rampage after being caught watching inappropriate content online.
Detectives allege the teen placed a pistol in his deceased brother's hand to support the staged scenario. The surviving sister told authorities that her older brother used their father's handgun to kill their family members. She recounted waking to gunshots and witnessing her brother shoot her siblings before turning the weapon on her.
Prosecutors revealed that the teen had recently faced academic troubles, failing tests at school and getting into significant disciplinary issues. Defense attorney Amy Parker described her client as a caring individual with no prior criminal history, emphasizing his interests in mountain biking and fishing. "Multiple people in the community have reached out to us who know our client, and they have attested to his good character," Parker said during a court hearing on Friday.
The teen has been charged with five counts of first-degree aggravated murder and one count of first-degree murder. He is currently detained at the Clark Child and Family Justice Center in Seattle. King County prosecutors argued that the severity of the crimes warrants moving the case to adult court, where the penalties are more severe.
A judge is expected to decide on January 8, 2025, whether the teen will be tried as an adult. If convicted in juvenile court, he can only be held until he is 25 years old. The community and legal observers await the decision, which will significantly impact the length of his potential sentence.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com