A Washington landlord has been charged with two counts of second degree murder after the remains of two of his tenants were found in bags and suitcases on a West Seattle shoreline in June, according to prosecutors and charging documents.
Michael, 62, was charged in the deaths of Jessica, 35, and Austin, 27, a couple who rented a room in his Burien home, Casey McNerthney of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told PEOPLE. The Kent Reporter says the couple had rented the room since December 2019.
According to the charging documents, investigators believe Michael was angry about unpaid rent. Michael told police the couple owed $1,500 and that they had argued, but he denied any involvement in their deaths, the Kent Reporter reports.
Neighbors told investigators they heard a loud argument at the home on June 9, including a man begging to be allowed to leave, followed by gunshots. When detectives searched the house in August, they reported finding bullet holes, spent rounds and blood in a room that appeared to have been recently cleaned and painted, according to the charging documents.
The remains were found on June 19 along the Duwamish Head shoreline in West Seattle by two teenage girls who were filming a TikTok video. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled both deaths homicides, and the charging documents say the couple had been shot. Investigators also said the bodies were dismembered and that more than one person may have been involved.
Michael was arrested at his home in Burien, about 10 miles south of Seattle, questioned and booked into the King County Jail. He is being held on $5 million bail and is expected to enter a plea at his arraignment on Sept. 8. Prosecutors have said the investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.
He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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