EVERETT — The Everett man suspected of killing a woman found near Pigeon Creek last week is a confessed murderer with at least two other reported victims, according to court papers.
John A. Derosia, 62, appeared briefly Tuesday afternoon in Everett District Court, where his bail was set at $1 million. He was arrested Monday evening after allegedly confessing to killing Shannon Yeager, 46, of Everett.
Derosia was being held Tuesday at the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of second-degree murder.
“He does present a danger to the community,” deputy prosecutor Katelyn Thomason said.
Everett police detectives focused on Derosia as they began tracking down people known to have been around Yeager in the days leading up to her killing. The two reportedly were in a dating relationship.
Detectives learned that Derosia had been convicted in 2004 of killing his then-wife. He also admitted to killing a co-worker years before and trying to hide the crime by setting a fire. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his wife’s murder and was released in September 2014, about a decade later. He had three months left of community supervision before his arrest Monday, according to the state Department of Corrections. Before then, his only supervision violation had been reporting a day late to his corrections officer.
When detectives approached him about Yeager, he reportedly vacillated between talking with investigators and declining to answer questions.
He was arrested after a witness came forward. The witness said that Derosia told others “that he was going back to his old ways and wanted to kill someone,” according to a probable cause affidavit.
After his arrest, Derosia allegedly agreed to be interviewed. He reportedly said he and Yeager were at a homeless encampment along Pigeon Creek, and he beat and stabbed her and left her for dead after an argument.
He changed clothing and returned to the camp, but Yeager wasn’t there. Derosia allegedly described finding the woman on a nearby trail and slamming her head against a hard surface “until he heard a crack,” the affidavit said.
“Derosia’s statement contained details only the suspect would know,” detectives wrote. “These details included how and where the victim was injured. Additionally, he led detectives to the first crime scene that was unknown to investigators.”
Detectives say Yeager’s body was found Friday morning near a trail to Pigeon Creek on Everett’s waterfront.
In 2003, Derosia went to the Lynnwood Police Department and handed the clerk a note. It listed his home address and contained this message: “In the back bedroom … Is my wife she is dead … So I am here to turn myself in for killing wife … The door is unlocked so you can get in.”
He cooperated with investigators and swiftly pleaded guilty, according to court papers.
Derosia was arrested in 2014 in connection with a co-worker’s killing from the late 1970s in King County. According to news reports, he allegedly admitted to beating the man to death and then setting a fire to hide evidence. A judge at the time found probable cause to detain Derosia for investigation of second-degree murder and set his bail at $100,000, court records show.
The case was soon dismissed. There was not enough evidence to charge Derosia, said Dan Donohoe, a spokesman with the King County Prosecuting Attorneys Office.
Reporter Rikki King contributed to this story.
Scott North: 425-339-3431; north@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snorthnews.
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