$1M bail for man accused of stabbing parents, starting fire

EVERETT — A man accused of stabbing his parents and setting their house on fire last week had been hospitalized two days earlier after he reportedly took drugs, shaved his body hair and drenched himself with gasoline, according to court papers.

Zachary R. Konicke, 29, is being held for investigation of murder, assault and arson after admitting that he repeatedly stabbed his parents Thursday and lit their Machias-area home on fire.

He was ordered jailed on $1 million bail Tuesday during a brief hearing in Everett District Court.

Konicke’s mother, 58, is presumed dead. A woman’s body was found in the burned-out house and the victim had injuries consistent with having suffered a knife attack, according to a probable cause statement prepared by David Bilyeu, a major crimes detective with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.

At about 8 p.m. Thursday, Vicki Konicke called 911 to report that her son had taken her car without permission. Less than three hours later, the defendant’s father, Mike Konicke, called 911 to report that his son was “terrorizing” him with a knife. A few minutes later, he called 911 again to report that his son had set the house on fire.

Deputies arrived to find Zachary Konicke on the ground outside the burning home. He had a broken heel.

His father, also 58, was outside. He had stab wounds, cuts and burns.

He told deputies that his son attacked him and his wife after returning home with the stolen car and that he’d come at them with knives, a bar stool, a mirror and his fists and feet.

Konicke’s father “stated he believed Zachary was ‘high on drugs’ and acting out as a result,” Bilyeu wrote. The father was unaware of any mental health issues related to his son.

Konicke’s brother, Alexander, told detectives that they had been sharing a Redmond apartment and that Zachary was a regular user of hallucinogenic drugs, including mushrooms and ecstacy. He reported that his brother on Jan. 12 had voluntarily been admitted to a King County hospital. He’d reportedly shaved his body hair and doused himself with gasoline, Bilyeu wrote.

The brother said Konicke “appeared calm but strange” and was making statements about “religion, spirits, the devil and ‘them’ watching, talking and chasing him,” Bilyeu wrote.

Konicke’s parents arranged for him to come home with them after he was released from last week’s brief hospital stay.

When questioned by detectives, Konicke claimed his father had attacked him with knives after he returned home with his mother’s car. “Zachary had no explanation for the lack of physical injuries consistent with being attacked,” Bilyeu wrote.

The suspect allegedly admitted stabbing his mother in the head, chest and leg, and insisted that she had attacked him, too, according to court papers.

“He advised his parents were ‘extremely strong’ and ‘cool as cucumbers,’ ” and seemed “possessed,” the detective wrote.

Konicke told detectives that he injured his ankle jumping from a second-story window. He reported doing so after his father had sprayed him with a fire extinguisher.

His father told detectives that after his son lit the home afire, he tried to put out the flames with an extinguisher.

Konicke appeared in court Tuesday in a wheelchair. White casts covered his feet. He signed a court order prohibiting him from having contact or trying to communicate with his father.

Amid the tragedy, there was a bright moment Tuesday.

One of the family’s dogs was returned after several days of uncertainty over what had become of her.

Friends and neighbors spent hours over the holiday weekend searching for Reigny, a five-month-old golden retriever who disappeared the night of the fire. Vicki Konicke was well known for breeding golden retrievers.

Posters were made and messages spread through social media in efforts to find Reigny. Friends of the family even posted a $1,500 reward.

It turned out other friends had taken Reigny in.

Vicki Konicke’s love for dogs was deep, family friends said.

Whenever there was a new litter, neighbors would gather to share in her excitement.

Danai Ortiz, who grew up on the same street as the Konickes and was close in age to their sons, spearheaded efforts to find Reigny.

Everyone knew how much Reigny meant to the Konickes, she said.

Ortiz has fond memories of the family. She said that it is difficult for people who lived in the neighborhood to comprehend what happened.

The parents would prepare welcome baskets for new neighbors and were well respected in the community, she said.

“They were the neighbors you wish you had,” Ortiz said.

A “Find Reigny” Facebook page was created during the search. It can be found at facebook.com/findreginy.

Scott North: 425-339-3431; north@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snorthnews.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Traffic idles while waiting for the lights to change along 33rd Avenue West on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood seeks solutions to Costco traffic boondoggle

Let’s take a look at the troublesome intersection of 33rd Avenue W and 30th Place W, as Lynnwood weighs options for better traffic flow.

A memorial with small gifts surrounded a utility pole with a photograph of Ariel Garcia at the corner of Alpine Drive and Vesper Drive ion Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Death of Everett boy, 4, spurs questions over lack of Amber Alert

Local police and court authorities were reluctant to address some key questions, when asked by a Daily Herald reporter this week.

The new Amazon fulfillment center under construction along 172nd Street NE in Arlington, just south of Arlington Municipal Airport. (Chuck Taylor / The Herald) 20210708
Frito-Lay leases massive building at Marysville business park

The company will move next door to Tesla and occupy a 300,0000-square-foot building at the Marysville business park.

Everett police officers on the scene of a single-vehicle collision on Evergreen Way and Olivia Park Road Wednesday, July 5, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Photo provided by Everett Police Department)
Everett man gets 3 years for driving high on fentanyl, killing passenger

In July, Hunter Gidney crashed into a traffic pole on Evergreen Way. A passenger, Drew Hallam, died at the scene.

FILE - Then-Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., speaks on Nov. 6, 2018, at a Republican party election night gathering in Issaquah, Wash. Reichert filed campaign paperwork with the state Public Disclosure Commission on Friday, June 30, 2023, to run as a Republican candidate. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)
6 storylines to watch with Washington GOP convention this weekend

Purist or pragmatist? That may be the biggest question as Republicans decide who to endorse in the upcoming elections.

Keyshawn Whitehorse moves with the bull Tijuana Two-Step to stay on during PBR Everett at Angel of the Winds Arena on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
PBR bull riders kick up dirt in Everett Stampede headliner

Angel of the Winds Arena played host to the first night of the PBR’s two-day competition in Everett, part of a new weeklong event.

Simreet Dhaliwal speaks after winning during the 2024 Snohomish County Emerging Leaders Awards Presentation on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Simreet Dhaliwal wins The Herald’s 2024 Emerging Leaders Award

Dhaliwal, an economic development and tourism specialist, was one of 12 finalists for the award celebrating young leaders in Snohomish County.

In this Jan. 12, 2018 photo, Ben Garrison, of Puyallup, Wash., wears his Kel-Tec RDB gun, and several magazines of ammunition, during a gun rights rally at the Capitol in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
With gun reform law in limbo, Edmonds rep is ‘confident’ it will prevail

Despite a two-hour legal period last week, the high-capacity ammunition magazine ban remains in place.

Everett Fire Department and Everett Police on scene of a multiple vehicle collision with injuries in the 1400 block of 41st Street. (Photo provided by Everett Fire Department)
1 in critical condition after crash with box truck, semi in Everett

Police closed 41st Street between Rucker and Colby avenues on Wednesday afternoon, right before rush hour.

The Arlington Public Schools Administration Building is pictured on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
$2.5M deficit in Arlington schools could mean dozens of cut positions

The state funding model and inflation have led to Arlington’s money problems, school finance director Gina Zeutenhorst said Tuesday.

Lily Gladstone poses at the premiere of the Hulu miniseries "Under the Bridge" at the DGA Theatre, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Mountlake Terrace’s Lily Gladstone plays cop in Hulu’s ‘Under the Bridge’

The true-crime drama started streaming Wednesday. It’s Gladstone’s first part since her star turn in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Jesse L. Hartman (Photo provided by Everett Police Department)
Everett man who fled to Mexico given 22 years for fatal shooting

Jesse Hartman crashed into Wyatt Powell’s car and shot him to death. He fled but was arrested on the Mexican border.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.