A Washington landlord has been charged for the murder of his two tenants, whose dismembered bodies were discovered inside suitcases by two young girls filming a TikTok video on a Seattle shore in June.
62-year-old Michael Lee Dudley was charged with two counts of second-degree murder, Casey McNerthney of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told PEOPLE.
Jessica Lewis, 35, and Austin Wenner, 27, were tenants of Dudley’s, who were renting a room in his home. However, they were allegedly having difficulties affording their $1,500 monthly rent.
The charging documents obtained by the outlet state that on the night of June 9, authorities believe the couple got into an argument with Dudley, who wanted them to move out. Police say the killings took place on June 16. Neighbors reported hearing a loud argument coming from the residence and say they heard a male voice begging, “Please don’t do this. Just let me leave.” They said shortly after, they heard gunshots.
Blood and bullet casings were found in the room the couple was previously staying in, which had recently been cleaned and painted, ‘Newsweek’ reports.
The bodies were found on June 19, on the shores of Duwamish Head in West Seattle, by two teen girls who were filming a TikTok video. The girls found the remains inside garbage bags that had been stuffed in suitcases. In video footage captured by the teens, one girl uses a stick to open up one of the bags and then makes the gruesome discovery.
Police say Lewis had been shot several times, and Wenner died of a single gunshot wound.
Dudley was arrested at his home in Burien, about 10 miles south of Seattle, according to’ The Seattle Times.’ He was questioned and booked into the King County Jail. He is currently being held on $5 million bail and is expected to enter a plea at his arraignment on Sept. 8.
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