Women found dead in burning house had been shot
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NORTH BEND, Wash. -- Two women found dead inside a burning house Sunday morning had been fatally shot before the fire was set in what the King County sheriff described as a crime of "almost unbelievable evil."
Detectives were still trying to find Peter A. Keller, 41, who lives in the house where the women were found. Keller is considered a "person of interest" and has not been named as a suspect, said King County sheriff's Sgt. Cindi West.
"We certainly have not ruled him out as a suspect," she said. But she added, "There is a possibility that he's also a victim somewhere."
Keller has been unaccounted for since the Sunday morning fire at the house that he shared with his wife and daughter.
"We have two victims who have been shot and killed, weapons are missing from the house, and we have not been able to contact Keller," King County Sheriff Steve Strachan said. "We want to talk to him to see if he had any involvement in this case."
A dog and cat were also found shot to death inside the home, Strachan said.
Arson investigators were at the home Monday, where crews responding to the blaze also found seven gasoline containers.
Firefighters had trouble entering the home near North Bend because the front door was jammed by a couch and chair. King County sheriff's Sgt. Cindi West said Sunday the entry "appeared to be intentionally blocked," but family friends later told investigators a furniture arrangement blocked the door.
The family normally used a side door, they said.
Officials said the sheriff's office had no history of domestic violence at the home.
Strachan said Keller is an avid outdoorsman who has spent many hours hiking the area around North Bend. Anyone who sees Keller is asked to call 911.
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"We certainly have not ruled him out as a suspect," she said. But she added, "There is a possibility that he's also a victim somewhere."
Keller has been unaccounted for since the Sunday morning fire at the house that he shared with his wife and daughter.
"We have two victims who have been shot and killed, weapons are missing from the house, and we have not been able to contact Keller," King County Sheriff Steve Strachan said. "We want to talk to him to see if he had any involvement in this case."
A dog and cat were also found shot to death inside the home, Strachan said.
Arson investigators were at the home Monday, where crews responding to the blaze also found seven gasoline containers.
Firefighters had trouble entering the home near North Bend because the front door was jammed by a couch and chair. King County sheriff's Sgt. Cindi West said Sunday the entry "appeared to be intentionally blocked," but family friends later told investigators a furniture arrangement blocked the door.
The family normally used a side door, they said.
Officials said the sheriff's office had no history of domestic violence at the home.
Strachan said Keller is an avid outdoorsman who has spent many hours hiking the area around North Bend. Anyone who sees Keller is asked to call 911.
