Suspects ID’d in 2007 Lake Stevens home invasion

Published 10:25 pm Friday, August 13, 2010

LAKE STEVENS — Three years after a violent home invasion robbery in Lake Stevens, investigators say they’ve identified two suspects — one by name and the other only by genetic profile.

Snohomish County Deputy Prosecutor Ed Stemler filed charges this week against an unnamed person in connection with the 2007 robbery.

A second suspect, James Roy Holmes, also has been charged with multiple crimes after scientists reported that his DNA matches genetic evidence found on a latex glove recovered at the scene of the crime.

Investigators believe the unnamed suspect also left behind forensic evidence on a latex glove. The genetic profile belongs to a male, age unknown, but isn’t found in state and federal DNA databases.

The statute of limitations runs out next week, which would eliminate any chance to hold the unnamed offender accountable.

Instead, Stemler filed robbery, assault and burglary charges against “Individual C,” listing the suspect’s unique genetic sequence of DNA.

That means if the suspect is ever identified, he could face prosecution, Stemler said.

On Aug. 21, 2007, several men tied up four people inside a Lake Stevens home and held them at gunpoint, Stemler wrote. The homeowner was pistol-whipped. One of his guests was struck in the face and warned not to look at the robbers.

The suspects ransacked the house and grabbed wallets, purses, keys and cell phones. They also demanded drugs and money. One of the guests owned a bar and had $40,000 in bank bags at the house. The robbers grabbed that, too.

The suspects tossed a couch and a coffee table on top of the victims, who were tied up on the floor. The victims heard the suspects say that they shouldn’t leave behind any witnesses. They threatened to start the house on fire, Stemler wrote.

The suspects fled and the victims were able to free themselves and call police.

The two couples told investigators they didn’t recognize any of the suspects.

“We don’t know if they got the wrong house or why they picked that house,” Stemler said.

The couples provided descriptions of two of the suspects. One was described as having gold glasses and gold teeth. The investigation stalled until last summer when scientists at the state crime lab confirmed that DNA found on a latex glove matched Holmes, whose DNA was in the offender database.

Everett police learned that Holmes was being held in a Texas prison on an unrelated drug conviction. Investigators say Holmes was in the Snohomish County Jail about a month before the robbery. He wasn’t locked up at the time of the crime, Stemler wrote.

Everett detectives had trouble contacting the victims and the case was closed again.

One of the victims contacted police in February and a detective renewed efforts to identify the suspects. One of the witnesses picked Holmes out of a photo line-up.

In the meantime, he’d been released from prison. Holmes was charged last week with multiple felonies. He failed to show up for a court hearing and is wanted on a $50,000 warrant.

Stemler said there are at least two more suspects in connection with the case. Unless investigators can come up with adequate evidence to identify them by Aug. 21, he won’t be able to file charges.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.