Officials in Thurston County, Washington, say they believe they have located a missing couple allegedly killed by a tenant. The local coroner’s office is yet to confirm if the bodies indeed belong to the victims, 62-year-old chiropractor Karen Koep and her 68-year-old husband, Davido.
According to CNN, Thurston County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a discovered body off Stedman Road SE on Saturday afternoon, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. During the investigation, another body was found.
Although a coroner has yet to officially confirm the identities, police believe they’ve found the bodies of 62-year-old Karen Koep and her 68-year-old husband, Davido.
“Detectives responded to the scene to investigate the discovery, and sadly, we believe Davido and Karen Koep have been located based on the preliminary investigation,” Sheriff Derek Sanders said in a statement.
“We understand that their families are struggling mightily. It was clear that they (the family) were hurting, but one thing that we did talk about … was how important it was for the families that have the closure to be able to bury their loved ones. And so I hope we are one step closer to that.”
Sander said the investigation is ongoing and detectives are still obtaining evidence at the scene.
Timothy Burke, 45, who reportedly lived in a boarding house provided by the Koeps and did construction and repairs in exchange for rent, has been arrested and charged in connection with the murders.
The family of Karen Koep and Davido are speaking out after Thurston County Sheriff's Office said they recovered two bodies believed to be the missing couple on Saturday.https://t.co/HBnVg9jk4J
— KOMO News (@komonews) December 4, 2023
As CrimeOnline previously reported, police began investigating when Karen Koep, a popular chiropractor, failed to show up for work at her clinic in Lacey. Deputies didn’t find the couple at their Lake Forest home, between Long Lake and Marvin Road, but later found their vehicles abandoned in Olympia.
According to court records, deputies responding to a welfare check discovered blood evidence in the couple’s home. Their vehicles also had blood in them, Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Lord said, and bloody drag marks were found leading to their garage.
Now, investigators allege Burke killed the victims at the residence before disposing of their bodies and cars, which he allegedly drove away from the scene.
FOX 13 News reports that investigators found a “partially completed eviction note,” filled out by Davido Koep and sent to Burke. Koep’s sister, Pauline Dutton, said she believes that the eviction is the motive behind the alleged murders.
During court earlier this month, the couple’s two children wiped away tears as Lord described the crime scene, claiming that the victims were likely murdered.
“The amount of blood that was in the home was unsurvivable. Further, there was blood found in both Mister Burke’s vehicle and there was blood found in Ms. (Koep’s) vehicle,” Lord said.
Judge John C. Skinder subsequently denied bail, citing the evidence, which included Burke being caught on security footage using David Koep’s debit card. Burke was also allegedly found with a gun.
Court documents stated that investigators linked a bullet used during the alleged killings to Burke’s gun.
“These allegations alone, based upon the nature of the allegations, does give the court the ability to find by clear and convincing evidence that there is a propensity for violence that creates a substantial likelihood of danger to the community or any person,” he said.
Burke is facing one count of identity theft and two counts of first-degree murder. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Koep couple/Facebook]
