THURSTON COUNTY, WASHINGTON: Karen Koep and her husband Davido have been missing since Monday, November 13, and a suspect was taken into custody in connection to the disappearance of a Washington couple who are now believed to be dead.
The defendant, Timothy Burke, 45, appeared in court for his bail hearing in the presence of the victims' loved ones who filled the benches to watch.
One of Koep and Davido's friends lashed out at the alleged killer and asked him to disclose the missing couple's whereabouts. “Tell him to give that family some closure and tell them where the bodies are,” the friend said, according to Seattle CBS affiliate KIRO. The defendant, however, said nothing in reply.
“Ma’am, ma’am,” Superior Court Judge John Skinder reportedly said in disapproval as the friend spoke.
Why are Karen Koep and Davido believed to be dead?
Deputies in Thurston County, Washington, said that Burke is the prime suspect who is behind the disappearance of Koep and Davido. Authorities believe that the duo has a very slim chance of staying alive after they discovered so much blood in their home. Burke is being held without bail.
What did Karen Koep's sister say?
Koep’s sister, Pauline Dutton, told NBC News that Burke was one of the tenants who lived on the couple’s rental property, and that he did work for Davido in place of paying rent. Even though she is not aware of any problems the couple had before the disappearance, she said, “there was always some drama with the tenants.”
Davido was getting ready to evict Timothy Burke
According to court documents obtained by the outlet, investigators learned from a witness that Davido was getting ready to evict Burke. Burke, who lived on an Olympia property that Davido owned, allegedly wrote “very negative” emails about him, including one where he claimed Davido put something in the water, authorities reportedly said.
What did Karen Koep's patients say?
Koep, who was a chiropractor by profession, was spoken highly of by her patients and loved ones. “The outreach, the legacy that she is leaving is incredible,” Ann Rettemier, a patient and friend of Koep’s, said, according to WPDE. “I cry all the time. I’ve been praying all last week and I couldn’t even get the words out," she said.
“I’m so blessed to be able to hear that everybody is sharing these beautiful stories because they really are comforting our family at this time,” Dutton reportedly said. She told NBC that she last communicated with her sister via text on Friday, November 10. Deputies have said they responded to the couple’s home for a welfare check the following Monday after Koep missed work.
What did the authorities find in Karen Koep and Davido's home?
The authorities arrived at the couple's residence in Lake Forest Development, discovering that they were missing. Authorities at the time simply described the circumstances of their disappearance to be suspicious.
Later, police found their vehicle, a gray, four-door Toyota Yaris hatchback, near 67th Avenue SE and Rainier Road SE., which is about six miles from their home.
Other evidence included shell casings of Burke’s .45-caliber gun discovered in the couple’s home, authorities said. According to Thurston County Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Lord in the KIRO report, blood was found in Burke’s and Koep’s respective vehicles. Blood in the couple’s garage matched where a car trunk would be.
Karen Koep and Davido's family has set up a GoFundMe for them
The family is raising money through GoFundMe to cover expenses in the ongoing search for the bodies.
“Funds will be used to print flyers, organize and cover expenses for a search party, help keep utilities paid on their home and business as we continue our search and investigation into their disappearance, and support all ongoing efforts to locate our loved ones,” the fundraiser states.
