EVERETT — A Snohomish County man whose mother was killed and whose sister was seriously injured in a Feb. 19 knife attack is now thanking those who stepped forward to help his family on “the worst day of our lives.”
In a statement posted to social media and sent to The Daily Herald early this week, Mark Glover thanked the law officers and prosecutors who investigated the case, and the medical professionals who saved his sister’s life.
Many have “extended their helping hands, and their thoughts and prayers,” Glover wrote. “Many wonderful people have stepped forward, each in their own way, and really have rescued us from what might have been an overwhelming tragedy — a tragedy which struck my family, the like of which we have never known before.”
John Dimitri Kuljis Jr., 31, of Everett, on Monday pleaded not guilty in Snohomish County Superior Court to one count each of second-degree murder and first-degree assault. His trial is scheduled for May 5.
The surprise attack occurred while Kuljis was working on a home-improvement project at the Maltby-area house where Janine Shaffer, 62, lived with her mother, Barbara Decker, 78.
Prosecutors allege Kuljis cut both women’s throats, ending Decker’s life. Shaffer fought and was able to break free.
Investigators believe Kuljis purchased the utility knife used in the attack two days earlier, according to court papers.
The man has no prior felony history. He does have drug arrests, including one three days before the attack.
In two of those instances, Everett police took note that Kuljis was carrying multiple knives, according to documents obtained by The Daily Herald under state public records laws.
In September, police were called to the scene of a reported “slumper” in a car parked in the lot of a fast-food restaurant along SE Everett Mall Way. A man later identified as Kuljis appeared to be passed out behind the wheel.
Officers said they spotted a small baggie that contained suspected methamphetamine and a scorched glass pipe used for smoking the drug.
Kuljis had a baseball bat nearby. For safety reasons, the police decided to open the car and take him into custody instead of attempting to awaken him first, according to police reports filed in the case.
Officers said they recovered 1.6 grams of meth and a small amount of heroin, which Kuljis said must have been left in the car by somebody else.
“He had many large knives in his possession,” one officer wrote. One knife was in his pants pocket. Another was in his shoe. He reportedly also had a “ninja throwing star” knife in a backpack. Officers said he told them that it was for his children.
No charges were filed in that case.
Kuljis was arrested again Feb. 16. He was a passenger in a car that was pulled over in south Everett because it was weaving in traffic.
A man described as a known drug trafficker was at the wheel, and suspected heroin was found.
When he was searched, Kuljis reportedly had a knife clipped to the right front of his jeans and was carrying another inside a pocket, officers wrote. He also reportedly had a small baggie of suspected methamphetamine in his shoe and a pipe for smoking the drug.
He was cited at the scene for possession of drug paraphernalia and released.
After his arrest for the Feb. 19 attack, Kuljis told investigators that he has been living with an opioid addiction and that he takes anti-psychotic medication as well as a prescription meant to treat chemical dependence.
An Everett police spokeswoman on Tuesday declined to answer questions about the arrests.
Glover, a former Lynnwood police detective who is now a nurse, said in his statement he understands that Kuljis “wasn’t always like this, and that he may have done many good things in his life, and probably had people who loved him.”
He can’t understand why anyone would attack his mom and sister.
Both of his parents “faced adversity when they were young. They became strong, and they raised strong children,” Glover wrote. “We are still here. This evil effort to destroy us has failed. We are supported by many who care for and love us … But we will remember. Always.”
Scott North: 425-339-3431; north@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snorthnews.
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