Murder suspects avoid death penalty

Published 10:50 pm Monday, January 7, 2008

EVERETT — Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney Janice Ellis will not seek the death penalty for two Tacoma men accused of bursting into a south Everett home and gunning down a man and a woman.

Areewa Saray, 20, and Saroeun Phai, 24, each are accused of two counts of aggravated first-­degree murder in the drug-related killings. In aggravated murder cases, prosecutors can seek the death penalty. An aggravated murder conviction carries an automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of release if the death penalty is not sought.

Saray and Phai are charged with the July 2, 2007, murders of Linda Nguyen and Kevin Meas.

Ellis said she notified the defendants’ lawyers last week that she will not seek the death penalty against either man.

“In concluding that this case does not warrant the ultimate punishment, I reviewed the police investigation of this case, conferred with members of the Criminal Division of my office … and spoke with members of Linda Nguyen’s and Kevin Meas’ families,” Ellis said in a statement.

According to Ellis, Nguyen and Meas relocated to the Pacific Northwest from New England several months before they were murdered. They came here on a promise that they could make a lot of money growing marijuana, Ellis said.

Investigators believe Nguyen and Meas were paid to tend an elaborate marijuana-growing operation at a house in the 6000 block of Dexter Avenue. Investigators found about 800 marijuana plants, lights, fans, filters and an irrigation system inside the house.

They also discovered another 400 plants growing in a nearby house in the 200 block of E. Beech Street, according to documents.

Ellis said the marijuana-growing operations found in the Everett homes mirror similar indoor pot farms in Canada.

“As our borders become less porous to marijuana imports from British Columbia, our communities will likely host increased numbers of indoor marijuana grow operations — and the potential for increased violence,” Ellis said.

The deaths are “a reminder to us all to be alert to the possibility that marijuana and other drugs can be manufactured in our neighborhoods,” Ellis said.

Investigators don’t have any evidence that Saray and Phai knew the victims. Prosecutors believe that Saray was told that there was upwards of $40,000 cash in the Everett house.

Nguyen was killed immediately when the pair forced their way into the home, according to charging documents. Meas was killed moments later. Both were shot in the head, documents said.

“There is no evidence that the defendants searched the house or stole any objects, Ellis said. “The evidence is that they left the house immediately after the murders.”

Prosecutors alleged that the defendants burned the car they drove to the house. They returned to Pierce County in another vehicle, documents said.

“Excellent police work by the Everett Police Department, with the assistance of the Tacoma Police Department, tied the murders to the car arson, and the car arson to the defendants,” Ellis said.

Police continued the investigation and have recovered the guns used in the shooting from Puget Sound, Ellis said.

“Forensic testing has confirmed that the recovered guns were used to kill Linda Nguyen and Kevin Meas,” Ellis said.

Ellis said she concludes that asking for the death penalty “will not achieve a better measure of justice for Linda Nguyen and Kevin Meas.”

Snohomish County prosecutors last sought the death penalty in 2004 in the case of Richard Mathew Clark. He was facing a second trial after being convicted and sentenced to die seven years earlier for the 1995 murder of 7-year-old Roxanne Doll. Prosecutors agreed not to seek death in 2006 after Clark admitted he killed the girl. Her family supported the decision.

Reporter Jim Haley: 425-339-3447 or jhaley@heraldnet.com.