Teenager charged with killing family in £2m Washington mansion
Boy faces life imprisonment if tried as adult for family's murder
A 15-year-old boy faces murder charges after allegedly killing his parents and three younger siblings in their Washington state mansion. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged the teenager on Thursday with five counts of first-degree aggravated murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder. The teen, whose name remains undisclosed due to his age, is accused of systematically murdering his father, mother, two brothers, and sister, and attempting to kill another sister. Prosecutors claim he then staged the scene to blame his deceased 13-year-old brother.
If tried as an adult, the boy could face life imprisonment. The bodies of Mark and Sarah Humiston and their three children, aged 6, 9, and 13, were discovered with multiple gunshot wounds in their $2 million home in Fall City, a Seattle suburb, around 5 a.m. on Monday. An 11-year-old girl, shot twice, survived and is recovering.
Responding deputies arrived at the Lake Alice Road property after receiving a 911 call from the teen, who alleged his younger brother killed the family and committed suicide from fear of being caught viewing pornography. Another emergency call from a neighbor identified the 15-year-old as the shooter. Deputies found the victims’ bodies inside the house and arrested the teenager immediately.
15 year old Washington boy arrested and charged with unaliving 2 parents and 3 children in a home he was living pic.twitter.com/7LVSLGzeN0
— Karen Weber (@WeberGirl765) October 23, 2024
The surviving sister escaped during the attack and received medical attention from a neighbour before being taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. She was released from the hospital on Wednesday.
The King County Medical Examiner ruled the deaths as homicides. The defence attorney, Amy Parker, described the boy as someone who enjoys mountain biking and fishing and has no prior criminal history.
The small community of Fall City, with roughly 2,000 residents, held a candlelit vigil for the family. Pastor Carrie Bland, who organised the vigil, noted the profound impact of the tragedy on the community.
Mark Humiston, 43, worked as an electrical engineer at Hargis Engineers in Seattle, while his wife, 42, was reportedly a registered nurse. The accused teenager remains in secure detention at the Clark Child and Family Justice Center in Seattle and is due back in court on Friday.
What Other Media Are Saying
- KOMO News reports on a tragic shooting in Fall City, where a 15-year-old is in custody for allegedly killing five family members, with a teenage survivor hospitalized, an ongoing investigation, and no additional arrests anticipated.(read more)
- KIRO 7: Charges filed against a 15-year-old suspect in Fall City murders, including attempted murder of his sister, highlighting a tragic domestic violence event in a well-liked family home.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who was charged in the Washington state family murder case?
A 15-year-old boy faces charges for allegedly killing his parents and three siblings.
What charges does the 15-year-old face?
He faces five counts of first-degree aggravated murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder.
What could happen if the teenager is tried as an adult?
He could face life imprisonment if tried as an adult.
How many victims were found in the Washington state mansion?
Five victims were found dead, and one surviving sister was injured.
How did the community respond to the family tragedy?
The small community of Fall City held a candlelit vigil for the family.
