By Scott North
Herald Writer
EVERETT – Police have arrested one man, and are seeking another in the fatal beating of an Everett teen who was left to die on a middle school football field Nov. 17.
Steven Enus Limar, 20, of Everett, surrendered to police in Phenix City, Ala., at about 9:30 a.m. today, Everett police Sgt. Boyd Bryant said. Along with Matthew Dominic Teague, 18, of Lynnwood. Limar was charged Thursday with first-degree murder in the death of Joshua Alan Lorbiecki, 15.
“His mom and he went to the police department where he gave himself up,” Bryant said.
Limar was expected to be returned to Everett as early as next week. A manhunt continued for Teague.
Investigators believe the victim was beaten and abandoned on a field at Evergreen Middle School as part of a botched robbery that was not planned to end with Josh’s death and netted just $12, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Mark Roe said in documents filed late Thursday in Superior Court.
One of the men allegedly told a witness that they knew Josh had been trying to buy $400 worth of marijuana, and they targeted him for the money, Roe alleged.
“Reportedly, the robbers expressed to friends their disappointment that the victim only had $12 in his wallet,” Roe wrote. “Police found $440 in Josh’s pants pocket, however. Apparently, the attackers were spotted, and knew they had been, before they had a chance to go through Josh’s pockets as he lay bleeding and dying on the ground.”
Josh was a sophomore at Everett High School, where he transferred this year after attending Mukilteo schools for the last several years. He had been a bat boy for the Mariners during a summer vacation and enjoyed being the big brother to two siblings.
Josh also had prior troubles with the law, but had tried to turn over a new leaf, family members said.
“Obviously, we are shocked and disappointed that he was dealing with this,” said his father, Pat Lorbiecki. “But I can always remember the old biblical quote that those among us without sin should cast the first stone.”
The investigation of the fatal beating began after a witness spotted two young men standing over the victim’s prostrate body. The men fled.
Limar and Teague became suspects in the case after an acquaintance provided their names to police as possible suspects, Roe wrote.
Police looked at surveillance videotapes taken at local businesses before the attack, and hit pay dirt at a convenience store on Evergreen Way, two blocks from where the victim was found.
The tapes show Josh and both of the defendants were at the store and left together about 15 minutes before witnesses called police to report the beating, Roe alleged.
Court orders have been signed to hold both Teague and Limar on $250,000 cash-only bail.
You can call Herald Writer Scott North at 425-339-3431
or send e-mail to north@heraldnet.com.
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