Investigators: Argument led to Kent woman's murder
BLACK DIAMOND, Wash. -- The murder of a woman whose body was found inside a burned-out car began with an argument, according to investigators.
Denise K. Grigsby, 39, of Kent was found dead in the trunk of a burning car earlier this month. Suspects Kennon G. Fastrup and Michelle Backstrom have been arrested for investigation for murder.
According to the statement of probable cause, 34-year-old Backstrom confessed to her involvement in the murder and implicated Fastrup.
Fastrup, 30, has been dating both Grigsby and Backstrom, she told investigators, and all three are known to be methamphetamine abusers.
On May 4, all three were at Backstrom's home when an argument broke out between Fastrup and Grigsby. Backstrom said as she tried to intervene, Grigsby bit her thumb, prompting her to punch Grigsby in the head.
As the scuffle carried over into the garage, Fastrup grabbed a hard metal object and repeatedly struck the victim on the head.
Both Backstrom and Fastrup then used "braded metal rope and a nylon key lanyard" to strangle Grigsby.
The pair then put Grigsby in the trunk of her own car and drove it out to a remote location near Southeast 327th Street an Auburn-Black Diamond Road where they set the car on fire before fleeing the scene.
When questioned by investigators, Fastrup only confessed to having helped Backstrom dispose of Grigsby's body; he claimed he was not present when Backstrom allegedly killed Grigsby by herself.
Denise K. Grigsby, 39, of Kent was found dead in the trunk of a burning car earlier this month. Suspects Kennon G. Fastrup and Michelle Backstrom have been arrested for investigation for murder.
According to the statement of probable cause, 34-year-old Backstrom confessed to her involvement in the murder and implicated Fastrup.
Fastrup, 30, has been dating both Grigsby and Backstrom, she told investigators, and all three are known to be methamphetamine abusers.
On May 4, all three were at Backstrom's home when an argument broke out between Fastrup and Grigsby. Backstrom said as she tried to intervene, Grigsby bit her thumb, prompting her to punch Grigsby in the head.
As the scuffle carried over into the garage, Fastrup grabbed a hard metal object and repeatedly struck the victim on the head.
Both Backstrom and Fastrup then used "braded metal rope and a nylon key lanyard" to strangle Grigsby.
The pair then put Grigsby in the trunk of her own car and drove it out to a remote location near Southeast 327th Street an Auburn-Black Diamond Road where they set the car on fire before fleeing the scene.
When questioned by investigators, Fastrup only confessed to having helped Backstrom dispose of Grigsby's body; he claimed he was not present when Backstrom allegedly killed Grigsby by herself.
