Suspect Arrested in Washington State on First-Degree Murder and Kidnapping Charges in Connection with Disappearance of Local Couple

Authorities in Washington state have arrested a man on first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in connection with the disappearance of a local couple last week. The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said Friday that the suspect, who was not named, is a man in his 40s from Olympia.

Davido and Karen A. Koep were reported missing on Nov. 13, after deputies with the Thurston County sheriff’s office performed a welfare check at their residence in response to a report that one of the Koeps had not shown up for work.

Pauline Dutton, the sister of Davido Koep, said Friday that the suspect was one of multiple tenants who lived on a rental property the couple owned and that he worked for Davido “in lieu of rent.”

At the time, authorities described the circumstances surrounding their disappearance as suspicious and said they did not believe the couple survived the attack at their home.

The suspect was arrested on Friday and is facing first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in connection with the disappearance of the couple. No other details about the suspect have been released as of Monday morning.