Three men have been convicted and given life sentences without the possibility of parole for their involvement in the murder of a family in Washington state back in 2017. The motive behind the crime was believed to be related to drugs and money.
Superior Court Judge Kevin Hull handed down sentences on Tuesday for Danie Kelly Jr., 45, Robert Watson III, 52, and Watson’s brother Johnny Watson, 50. The victims’ family members had the opportunity to address the court during the hearing, as reported by the Kitsap Sun.
The court handed down four life sentences to each man, corresponding to the four counts of first-degree murder they were convicted of. In addition, they received extra prison time for their attempted murder charges and firearm enhancements. Their guilt was established by a jury in April.
The Careagas were the proud owners of a thriving Mexican restaurant in Bremerton. According to court documents, detectives revealed that John Careaga would occasionally bring cocaine from California to sell in the local area.
Three men from Washington state have received sentences for the 2017 murders of a family.
Robert Watson, a leader in a local chapter of the Bandidos motorcycle club, purchased the cocaine from a close friend of his, according to authorities. It is important to note that investigators have determined that the murders were not connected to the activities of the motorcycle club.
According to John Careaga’s attorney, he claimed that there were hundreds of thousands of dollars hidden beneath his home. However, despite the assertion, no such money was ever discovered.
Detectives discovered that Robert Watson’s accounts received over $300,000 in deposits in 2017, with numerous unidentified cash deposits, as stated in the court records.
Detectives mentioned that Kelly had been a close friend of Careaga before they had a falling out and was involved with the Bandidos as a “hang-around.”
During the trial, defense attorneys aimed to raise doubts about the timeline and cellphone towers that were utilized to track the movements of the three individuals. They also argued that there was no evidence to support the claim that anything had been taken from the Careaga home.
In court, the relatives of the victims shared heart-wrenching accounts of the immense pain that has been inflicted upon their blended family since the tragic deaths.
John Careaga was known as a devoted father and uncle who always made sure to keep the nine children he cared for entertained. Crystal Careaga was described as someone who had a charming and infectious personality, always radiating positivity. Johnathon Higgins was affectionately referred to as a “big teddy bear” due to his gentle nature. Hunter Schaap, on the other hand, was recognized for his exceptional bravery, especially on the night of the tragic incident when he fearlessly dialed 911 to report the intruders in his family’s home.
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