By Scott North
Herald Writer
EVERETT — Police now think they know who fatally beat an Everett teen and left him to die on a middle school football field Nov. 17.
A manhunt is under way for Steven Enus Limar, 20, of Everett and Matthew Dominic Teague, 18, of Lynnwood. Both were charged Thursday with first-degree murder in the death of Joshua Alan Lorbiecki, 15.
Neither man was in custody Thursday evening, and police suspect they’ve fled the area, Everett police Sgt. Boyd Bryant said.
"We are assigning considerable resources and working with other agencies toward the speedy apprehension of both suspects," he said.
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."
He said it is a relief to know that suspects have been identified in his son’s death, and he is hopeful they soon will be behind bars.
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.
Both Teague and Limar are being sought on arrest warrants carrying $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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