Post by jono on Jan 14, 2017 14:13:20 GMT -8
Published in the Seattle Herald
Mystery Disappearance in Snohomish
By Jean Thomas
On Thursday afternoon, Snohomish County Sheriff Deputies were called to a home outside the city limits of Snohomish. A neighbor called to request a wellness check because she had not seen the family that lives in the house for more than a week. When the deputies arrived, they found the home unlocked, the two family vehicles parked in the driveway, and no one present to answer their knocks. The property is registered to a Mr. Brad Peters and county records indicate that he lived with his wife Jamie, and their four children of ages 5 through 14.
The deputies checked the premises, and found no evidence of foul play. There are signs that the home had been abandoned for at least four days prior to their investigation. Over the week before the Deputies’ visit to the house, the area had received significant snowfall, leaving several inches of accumulated snow on the ground. Most nights this week, the temperature has dropped below freezing. The only clues to the whereabouts of the family is that all of the winter boots and coats are missing from the house as well.
The Sheriff’s office has issued a call for volunteers to come together beginning tomorrow, Sunday the 8th, to comb the woods around the family’s property. The current theory is that one or more of the children in the family might have become lost, leading the rest of the family to go searching for them. With the weather conditions being as harsh as they have been, the family could be lost in the woods.
Volunteer searchers are being asked to bring their own cold weather supplies as well as any spares that they can manage in case they do find someone in need of assistance. The search parties will gather at 7am at the home on county road 146.
Heard on KJET Radio:
<Woman’s voice, calm, collected, concerned>“Natalie Claremont reporting from Pioneer Square. Over the recent weeks, the civil services in Seattle that provide for the homeless and those needing aid with subsistence have been hit hard. The shelters, food banks and other service providers have noted an increase in guests requesting services.
There is a normal increase in community members seeking assistance as we progress into the coldest months of the year, and every service organization accounts for that increase in their budgets and planning. This year, however, the increase in demand for assistance is larger than ever before. Service providers are struggling to meet the need, and are at a loss for what has caused this surge in demand.
Often times, there will be surges in demand caused by local industry layoffs or if there are regional disasters like wildfires. This year, there have been no circumstances that the organizations would expect to cause an increase in demand.
I’ve come to Pioneer Square to speak with some of the community members who have come to seek out assistance. Today, Dolores Connors has agreed to speak with me. Thank you Dolores.
<Second woman’s voice, weary, fearful> “Yeah, sure. I don’t have any better use of my time.”
Natalie: Dolores, is this the first season you’ve received aid from Our Savior’s Food Bank?
Dolores: Well, yeah… I used to stay up in Marysville. Near the Casino, and when I needed help, I’d go into town and go to the food bank there. So yeah, this is the first time I come into the big city for help.
Natalie: Why did you decide to come into the city?
Dolores: I just didn’t feel safe anymore. I lived up there, by a creek for 40 years, never worried about the cougars or the bears. Worst I had were them bored teens causing a ruckus… but right after Christmas, something changed, and my Daddy used to say “If your gut says hit the road, hit the damned road.” So I came down to the city. Sure, I’m living in my truck… but I feel safer in the city than I did out there.
Natalie: That’s very strange Dolores… was there something in particular that you heard or saw?
Dolores: *pause* No. Not really… just fewer people out when they’re supposed to be… and more people out when they’re not. People up to no good. Darkness.
Natalie: Did the local police help with these people?
Dolores: I don’t know. Never called ‘em. I’m sorry… I’m done now. Goodbye.
Natalie: Well, thank you for your time! Next, we’ll speak with James and Peter. Thank you for your time, gentlemen.
James: <wary> Sure.
Peter: <bright> Yeah! I always wanted to get interviewed for something.
Natalie: <amused> Well, thank you again. Could you tell me about yourselves and what brings you here?
Peter: We both got kicked out of our homes because we started dating. We’re from Ruston, originally, and we moved to Bellingham… James tried to get into the University, and I got a job waiting tables… but that’s not enough to put a roof over our heads. We mostly camped, and when it got really cold, we’d use the shelters or stay in the Library.
James: <ashamed> Don’t say that!
Natalie: No one is judging you here. I asked for the truth.
James: Whatever.
Peter: The shelter up there was really nice, with some great people in it. One of the volunteers, Kirk, used to be a pastor, but he quit his job and his church because they wouldn’t let him be welcoming to Queer folk. He was awesome.
Natalie: So, if you had access to resources and connections with people in Bellingham, why did you come down here?
Peter: Well…
James: Things changed. People changed. Kirk stopped coming to volunteer. We went by his place, and he had a new lady living with him. She was a mean one and didn’t like him talking to us.
Peter: Yeah… the staff at the shelter changed, the new guy who checked everyone in… well… he kinda treated us like cattle. <imitating another man> “Everyone in line, move through processing, get your dinner, get your bedding, all orderly…”
James: It just didn’t feel right. Geoff started talking about leaving Bellingham and the new staff guy shut him down hard. Told him that he shouldn’t leave when he had such a good set up… access to everything he needs and people willing to help him. I think he must have scared Geoff, because the kid didn’t mention leaving Bellingham again. He wouldn’t even talk about Seattle.
Natalie: That is disturbing. Why do you think the environment changed? Has it been similar here in Seattle?
Peter: Oh no, here’s great. There’s a great shelter in the U District where the staff are already helping to get James into the programs he needs to get into the UDub, and they’re working with me to get me a job. Everyone’s wonderful here.
James: People change. They were wonderful in Bellingham at first too.
Natalie: Is there anything else you’d like to say, gentlemen?
Peter: This is gonna be played all around the state?
Natalie: Yes, on AM and FM, and online.
Peter: Good. Miranda Roberts, Mom, if you’re listening, I’m gonna marry James next month. You aren’t invited, and we’re going to have a lot of gay sex. But only after we’re married.
James: Peter!
Natalie: <quiet chuckling> I’ll leave that in just for you, Peter. Thank you for your time.
<report continues for another 15 minutes>
Report seen on Channel 6 News at Noon:
Wildlife Rangers have been called to the Seattle waterfront for the second time this week to help dispose of some unsettling remains.
Commuters were the first to report the mess, but soon tourists and other visitors to the docks noticed it as well. Once the rangers were on the scene, they were able to pull the remains of a large seal down from the top of a large post. The remains were partially eaten, with jagged chunks of flesh missing. Seagulls can account for some of the missing remains, but the rangers were able to make a preliminary assessment that the seal had been attacked by a medium sized shark.
Wildlife experts say that there is likely very little danger for human visitors to the docks, but that the local seal population might now have a resident preditor. Still, city officials recommend that people not go swimming near the docks, and if you see a seal being attacked, do not try to intervene. You likely will not be able to save the seal, and might get yourself into a dangerous situation.
The curious location of the carcass can be explained by the way certain sharks will violently shake their prey, with the goal of snapping the spine to cause a killing blow. In other regions, animal victims of shark attacks have been found on high rocks, on sea walls, and on boardwalks.
Mystery Disappearance in Snohomish
By Jean Thomas
On Thursday afternoon, Snohomish County Sheriff Deputies were called to a home outside the city limits of Snohomish. A neighbor called to request a wellness check because she had not seen the family that lives in the house for more than a week. When the deputies arrived, they found the home unlocked, the two family vehicles parked in the driveway, and no one present to answer their knocks. The property is registered to a Mr. Brad Peters and county records indicate that he lived with his wife Jamie, and their four children of ages 5 through 14.
The deputies checked the premises, and found no evidence of foul play. There are signs that the home had been abandoned for at least four days prior to their investigation. Over the week before the Deputies’ visit to the house, the area had received significant snowfall, leaving several inches of accumulated snow on the ground. Most nights this week, the temperature has dropped below freezing. The only clues to the whereabouts of the family is that all of the winter boots and coats are missing from the house as well.
The Sheriff’s office has issued a call for volunteers to come together beginning tomorrow, Sunday the 8th, to comb the woods around the family’s property. The current theory is that one or more of the children in the family might have become lost, leading the rest of the family to go searching for them. With the weather conditions being as harsh as they have been, the family could be lost in the woods.
Volunteer searchers are being asked to bring their own cold weather supplies as well as any spares that they can manage in case they do find someone in need of assistance. The search parties will gather at 7am at the home on county road 146.
Heard on KJET Radio:
<Woman’s voice, calm, collected, concerned>“Natalie Claremont reporting from Pioneer Square. Over the recent weeks, the civil services in Seattle that provide for the homeless and those needing aid with subsistence have been hit hard. The shelters, food banks and other service providers have noted an increase in guests requesting services.
There is a normal increase in community members seeking assistance as we progress into the coldest months of the year, and every service organization accounts for that increase in their budgets and planning. This year, however, the increase in demand for assistance is larger than ever before. Service providers are struggling to meet the need, and are at a loss for what has caused this surge in demand.
Often times, there will be surges in demand caused by local industry layoffs or if there are regional disasters like wildfires. This year, there have been no circumstances that the organizations would expect to cause an increase in demand.
I’ve come to Pioneer Square to speak with some of the community members who have come to seek out assistance. Today, Dolores Connors has agreed to speak with me. Thank you Dolores.
<Second woman’s voice, weary, fearful> “Yeah, sure. I don’t have any better use of my time.”
Natalie: Dolores, is this the first season you’ve received aid from Our Savior’s Food Bank?
Dolores: Well, yeah… I used to stay up in Marysville. Near the Casino, and when I needed help, I’d go into town and go to the food bank there. So yeah, this is the first time I come into the big city for help.
Natalie: Why did you decide to come into the city?
Dolores: I just didn’t feel safe anymore. I lived up there, by a creek for 40 years, never worried about the cougars or the bears. Worst I had were them bored teens causing a ruckus… but right after Christmas, something changed, and my Daddy used to say “If your gut says hit the road, hit the damned road.” So I came down to the city. Sure, I’m living in my truck… but I feel safer in the city than I did out there.
Natalie: That’s very strange Dolores… was there something in particular that you heard or saw?
Dolores: *pause* No. Not really… just fewer people out when they’re supposed to be… and more people out when they’re not. People up to no good. Darkness.
Natalie: Did the local police help with these people?
Dolores: I don’t know. Never called ‘em. I’m sorry… I’m done now. Goodbye.
Natalie: Well, thank you for your time! Next, we’ll speak with James and Peter. Thank you for your time, gentlemen.
James: <wary> Sure.
Peter: <bright> Yeah! I always wanted to get interviewed for something.
Natalie: <amused> Well, thank you again. Could you tell me about yourselves and what brings you here?
Peter: We both got kicked out of our homes because we started dating. We’re from Ruston, originally, and we moved to Bellingham… James tried to get into the University, and I got a job waiting tables… but that’s not enough to put a roof over our heads. We mostly camped, and when it got really cold, we’d use the shelters or stay in the Library.
James: <ashamed> Don’t say that!
Natalie: No one is judging you here. I asked for the truth.
James: Whatever.
Peter: The shelter up there was really nice, with some great people in it. One of the volunteers, Kirk, used to be a pastor, but he quit his job and his church because they wouldn’t let him be welcoming to Queer folk. He was awesome.
Natalie: So, if you had access to resources and connections with people in Bellingham, why did you come down here?
Peter: Well…
James: Things changed. People changed. Kirk stopped coming to volunteer. We went by his place, and he had a new lady living with him. She was a mean one and didn’t like him talking to us.
Peter: Yeah… the staff at the shelter changed, the new guy who checked everyone in… well… he kinda treated us like cattle. <imitating another man> “Everyone in line, move through processing, get your dinner, get your bedding, all orderly…”
James: It just didn’t feel right. Geoff started talking about leaving Bellingham and the new staff guy shut him down hard. Told him that he shouldn’t leave when he had such a good set up… access to everything he needs and people willing to help him. I think he must have scared Geoff, because the kid didn’t mention leaving Bellingham again. He wouldn’t even talk about Seattle.
Natalie: That is disturbing. Why do you think the environment changed? Has it been similar here in Seattle?
Peter: Oh no, here’s great. There’s a great shelter in the U District where the staff are already helping to get James into the programs he needs to get into the UDub, and they’re working with me to get me a job. Everyone’s wonderful here.
James: People change. They were wonderful in Bellingham at first too.
Natalie: Is there anything else you’d like to say, gentlemen?
Peter: This is gonna be played all around the state?
Natalie: Yes, on AM and FM, and online.
Peter: Good. Miranda Roberts, Mom, if you’re listening, I’m gonna marry James next month. You aren’t invited, and we’re going to have a lot of gay sex. But only after we’re married.
James: Peter!
Natalie: <quiet chuckling> I’ll leave that in just for you, Peter. Thank you for your time.
<report continues for another 15 minutes>
Report seen on Channel 6 News at Noon:
Wildlife Rangers have been called to the Seattle waterfront for the second time this week to help dispose of some unsettling remains.
Commuters were the first to report the mess, but soon tourists and other visitors to the docks noticed it as well. Once the rangers were on the scene, they were able to pull the remains of a large seal down from the top of a large post. The remains were partially eaten, with jagged chunks of flesh missing. Seagulls can account for some of the missing remains, but the rangers were able to make a preliminary assessment that the seal had been attacked by a medium sized shark.
Wildlife experts say that there is likely very little danger for human visitors to the docks, but that the local seal population might now have a resident preditor. Still, city officials recommend that people not go swimming near the docks, and if you see a seal being attacked, do not try to intervene. You likely will not be able to save the seal, and might get yourself into a dangerous situation.
The curious location of the carcass can be explained by the way certain sharks will violently shake their prey, with the goal of snapping the spine to cause a killing blow. In other regions, animal victims of shark attacks have been found on high rocks, on sea walls, and on boardwalks.
