Court orders teen accused of killing 5 in Fall City to be held in secure detention

SEATTLE — A 15-year-old boy accused of killing five people in a Fall City home early Monday morning will be held in secure detention until a charging decision is made.

The teen was scheduled to appear in court at the Clark Child and Family Justice Center in Seattle Tuesday afternoon but waived his right to appear, the King County Prosecuting Attorney Office said. The teen was represented by defense attorneys instead.

Judge Joe Campagna found probable cause on five counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder to hold the teen in secure detention and have no contact with "surviving family members of the immediate family."

According to Washington state law, there are no first appearance documents for juveniles. All information at a first appearance is presented verbally.

The teen has not been formally charged and the KCPAO has until Thursday at 4:30 p.m. to file charges with the court.

The teen does not have any prior criminal history in King County, and it's still too early in the process to say if he will be charged as an adult, according to the KCPAO.

According to the King County Sheriff's Office, deputies found the bodies of two adults and three juvenilesat a home on the7700 block of Lake Alice Road Southeast, which isnear the Lake Alice public boat launch, after multiple 911 callers reported a possible shooting just before 5 a.m. Monday in the Fall City area of King County.

The victims who all died were family members, said Rhea Robertson, a soccer coach who mentored one of the victims. Robertson told KOMO News the victims were two parents and three of their juvenile children. She identified the parents as Mark Humiston and his wife Sarah Humiston .

"Dad worked so hard and mom was the most dedicated, loyal mother you could ask for," Roberston told KOMO News. "You thought they were perfect. From the outside they looked perfect to me."

A teenage girl survived the incident after going to a neighbor for medical help. As of Tuesday evening, she remained at Harborview Medical Center in satisfactory condition.

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In Washington state, initial hearings for anyone under 18 happen in juvenile court, regardless of how they may be charged down the line, said KCPAODirector of Communications Casey McNerthney.

"The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will review the case for a charging decision when it is referred to us from Sheriff’s Office investigators," McNerthney told KOMO News in an email. "Prosecutors anticipate a case referral from King County Sheriff’s Office investigators as early as Thursday for a formal charging decision."

This is a significant event for the neighborhood," said KCSO Public Information Officer Mike Mellis. "And I’d call it a significant event for the region.”

At a press conference on Monday afternoon, Mellis clarified that there were initial reports about a suicide incident by "hanging." Mellis said after their preliminary investigation they determined the situation was not a suicide.

Mellis said when deputies arrived at the home, the incident had already concluded. Deputies immediately secured the scene on arrival and entered the home.

The major crimes unit of the KCSO is leading the investigation along with the medical examiner's office but asked for help from the Washington State Patrol (WSP) to bring its crime scene response unit. WSP took over the forensics at the scene.

The neighborhood is quiet and does not see much crime or police activity, Mellis said. A general search of the address showed KCSO deputies have not responded to any significant incidents in the past at the home and it is not a "problem house."

“It’s a pretty nice area, low crime rate in general," Mellis said of Fall City, an unincorporated area in King County. "This is truly one of those neighborhoods you come to escape the hustle bustle problems of a larger city, it’s supposed to be a quiet place to be, but as you can see, the worst things can happen in any location."

Multiple neighbors told KOMO News the children who lived in the home were homeschooled.

"They were very strong Christians, they loved God. You could tell," said nieghbor Camille Sharp. "It’s one of those cliché things like everyone says on the news: 'you never suspect this,' and it’s true."