2nd UPDATE:
Spokane County detectives say they have found the suspect of a deadly Spokane Valley domestic attack dead on the floor of his garage. Detectives could not immediately confirm the identity, but said they had no reason to believe it was not Jan R. Demeerleer. It appeared he had died from an apparent gunshot wound.
Autopsies for both the suspect and the woman detectives believe he shot and killed at 600 N. Ella will happen around 8:30 a.m Monday. The medical examiner's office will release the confirmed identities and causes of death.
Police had been searching for Demeerleer since 2:49 a.m. Sunday. A call to 911 from a 17 year old male told the operator that his "stepdad" had shot and killed his mother and slashed the teen caller's throat. When officers arrived, they learned the suspect had also shot the teen's nine year old brother in the head. A second nine year old twin brother was not hurt.
Both injured victims were transported to a downtown hospital where the teen was treated and released The other twin nine year old was placed on life support. However, at about 5:45 p.m., the boy was pronounced brain dead.
During the investigation, detectives learned that the suspect and the female victim were engaged to be married. They had live together for a period in the Northwoods home, but had never been married.
UPDATE:
The Spokane Sheriff's Department confirms the suspect connected to the deadly Spokane Valley domestic attack is dead. Watch KREM 2 News at 6 for a live report.
SPOKANE VALLEY -- One person is dead and another is in the hospital in critical condition after a domestic violence attack in Spokane Valley early Sunday morning. Investigators say they are looking for a male suspect who is possibly driving a 2005 silver Saab. Washington license plates is ABA0658.
The attack happened around 2:50 a.m. Sunday on the 600 block of North Ella Road in Spokane Valley. They say a 17 year old Spokane Valley boy awoke to a man slashing his neck with a knife. He survived the assault, but afterward found his mother dead on the floor of their kitchen. The teen told the operator that his step-dad had attempted to cut his throat and had killed his mom.
Police are now looking for the suspect Jan R. Demeerleer, 39, who is a former boyfriend or ex-husband of the deceased woman.
Officers arrived and learned that one of the woman's twin nine year old boys had suffered a severe head injury in the attack. A second twin was uninjured. Both the teen and his younger brother were taken to a downtown hospital for treatment. Detectives said their conditions were unknown, but the younger boy was on life support.
The teen told the 911 operator that his mother had been shot by Demeerleer, but that had not been confirmed by mid-morning as detectives awaited a search warrant to re-enter the home.
They had the residence on Ella secured with crime scene tape and Demeerleer's Northwoods home in the 8300 block of East Briant surrounded by the sheriff's SWAT team. It was unknown if the suspect was inside or if he had fled to another location.
ALERT Spokane, the new enhanced 911 call-back system, was used to warn other Northwoods residents to remain inside their homes and away from windows. Sheriff's dispatchers praised the system saying it successfully alerted 90 residents out of 100 attempts.
Police supervisors describe the suspect as dangerous and potentially armed with either a knife or firearm, or both. They urged anyone with information regarding his whereabouts or usual haunts to call Crime Check or 911 immediately.
Detectives were trying to locate relatives, friends or co-workers of both the victims and suspect to learn possible locations for Demeerleer and motive for the murder.
KREM 2 News has a crew at the scene getting more information. Stay with KREM.com for updates and watch KREM 2 News at 5 and 6 for a live report from the scene.
