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NEW evidence has pointed to the possibility that missing couple Karen Koep and her husband Davido were murdered in a tenant dispute.
Timothy Burke was arrested on Friday under suspicion of killing the couple from Seattle before he appeared in court on Monday.
A judge found probable cause for two counts of premeditated murder on Monday, prompting Burke to remain in custody without bail.
However, criminal charges against the suspect have not been filed.
Court documents filed on Monday revealed that Burke may have been on the verge of being evicted, according to local ABC affiliate KOMO.
“I believe this was definitely a dispute, a tenant dispute. They own property and he was a tenant,” Pauline Dutton, Koep’s sister, told the outlet.
Koep and Davido – who appeared to go by a single name – have been missing since November 13.
Authorities did a welfare check for the couple after Koep didn’t show up at her chiropractic office for work.
Court documents said that large pools of blood were found at the home by responding detectives, according to KOMO.
There were also signs that someone had tried to clean the blood, documents stated.
Officials believe the couple had been shot and their bodies carried to the trunk of their car.
A trail of blood from their home to the garage “that would be consistent with where the trunk of the car would be” led them to this conclusion, according to court documents.
Despite these findings, the couple’s bodies have not yet been found.
According to court documents, it is claimed that Burke used the couple’s credit cards as there are transactions made after they went missing and videos of a man making transactions.
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He was taken into custody and a semi-automatic pistol was found on his person but he was released due to a lack of probable cause.
Following this, investigators learned of the disgruntled tenant’s issues with his landlords and his mental health saying he had previously contacted law enforcement to complain about Davido.
When a match came through for the firearm and evidence found at the murder scene, the suspect was once again taken into custody.
Speaking of her sister’s alleged killer, Dutton said: “I don’t think this man is stable and I hope he gets the help he needs.
“I want to hate him but we are a family of faith, and it’s not my job to hate and it doesn’t help the community.”
“We just want to be representative of how my sister and her husband were,” she added.
“We are going to continue to keep spreading love and kindness.”
On Monday a Facebook post from the Thurston County Sheriff’s page states: “TCSO is still actively investigating this case.
“We appreciate the work from our detectives, patrol deputies, corrections deputies, prosecuting attorney, judges, and community during this troubling case.”
VIGIL HELD
Outside of Koep’s office on Sunday, a vigil was held for the couple.
They were remembered by many as kind and selfless individuals.
“The outreach, the legacy that she is leaving is incredible,” Ann Rettemier, a patient and friend of Koep’s, told KOMO.
“I cry all the time. I’ve been praying all last week and I couldn’t even get the words out.”
Dutton said her sister invested in each of her patients and their well-being both inside and outside of her office.
“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 told KOMO.