FALL CITY, Wash. — The two adults killed in the Fall City quintuple homicide were identified Tuesday.
Parents Mark and Sarah Humiston were among the five people killed inside a home on Lake Alice Road Southeast around 5 a.m. Monday. The three other victims were their children, who were juveniles.
The suspect in the killings was the couple's 15-year-old son. KING 5 is not naming the suspect as he is a juvenile and has not yet been charged. He also has no prior criminal history.
What we know about the victims
Mark Humiston was an electrical engineer at Hargis Engineers. A member of the company released a statement about his passing that reads:
"We are blindsided and saddened by the tragic events that have led to the loss of a respected colleague, mentor, and friend, as well as the loss of immediate family members. Mark’s leadership and vision were integral within our firm, and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his surviving family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time."
Sarah Humiston appears to have been a registered nurse. Her nursing license expired at the end of 2022.
A young girl survived the attack and remains in the hospital in satisfactory condition.
The family of seven lived together in the Fall City home. According to a neighbor, Mark and Sarah Humiston also homeschooled their children. Neighbors told KING 5 that while they were homeschooled, the children were very active in the community and were well-known.
King County Councilmember Sarah Perry issued a statement Monday saying five family members out of seven were tragically killed.
"My heart aches for the lives lost and all who are struggling to make sense of this loss right now,” Perry wrote.
Community members gathered at Fall City United Methodist Church Tuesday evening to honor the five victims.
"The loss of this family, taken so cruelly and senselessly, has left us heartbroken, devastated, and struggling to understand how such pain could exist in this world," Pastor Carrie Bland said.
Suspect's first court appearance
The 15-year-old suspect accused in the fatal shootings waived his right to appear at his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon. He was represented by a defense attorney.
At the Tuesday hearing, a judge found probable cause for five counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree attempted murder. The court also ordered the suspect to have no contact with his surviving immediate family member.
“I would remind everyone that these are not proven facts, merely allegations, and the law presumes our client is innocent of these charges,” said Defense Attorney Amy Parker.
"What we want to look at are the details gathered by investigators, and what we can show the court,” said Casey McNerthney, a spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
“We want the court to know that our client is a 15-year-old boy who enjoys mountain biking and fishing and has no criminal history,” Parker told the court.
“There is no indication that he has come to the prosecutor's office before, no previous cases, no first appearances. That's unusual to see these kinds of allegations with no previous contact with the prosecutor's office, but that is what we have here,” said McNerthney.
The allegations were the focus in the courtroom Tuesday.
"They create the highest possible risk to community safety and I order secure detention,” said Judge Joe Campagna.
What's next?
The teen suspect will be held in secure detention until their next hearing. Prosecutors anticipate a case referral from investigators as early as Thursday for a formal charging decision. Another hearing is scheduled for Friday.
It has not yet been decided if the teen will be charged as an adult in the crime. That decision will be made after the case is referred to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, which is expected as early as Thursday.
KING 5's Helen Smith, Quixem Ramirez and Natalie Swaby contributed to this report.