Careaga murder investigator: ‘We want to make sure that when we make an arrest, that the person is found guilty’

It’s been 18 days since three members of the Careaga family were murdered in their Seabeck home, which was then set on fire, and 16 days since John D. Careaga’s body was found in his burned truck at a different location. Here’s the status of the case

This version corrects the reference to Juanito’s Taco Shop in the 18th paragraph

BREMERTON — It’s been 18 days since three members of the Careaga family were murdered in their Seabeck home, which was then set on fire, and 16 days since John D. Careaga’s body was found in his burned truck at a different location.

The status of the case?

“We’re still following up with leads, still interviewing people, still processing evidence, still asking people who might have information to call in,” Kitsap County Sheriff’s Detective Lt. Earl Smith said Feb. 14.

Smith said he’s confident an arrest will be made.

“You might recall the double homicide in East Bremerton,” he said, referring to the March 2015 shooting death of Heather Kelso and her roommate’s 2-year-old son, Kaden Lum, in their home at Kariotis Mobile Home Park.

“People, I’m sure, were asking the same questions, but after a few months we were able to make an arrest and that person went to prison. We want to make sure that when we make an arrest, that the person is found guilty. We want to make sure we’re doing it right and investigating all leads and following up on everything we can.”

Although a suspect or suspects have yet to be arrested, Smith said there’s no cause for public concern for safety.

“I’m fairly confident this was not a random act,” Smith said. “For the community to think that there’s some person out there [randomly] killing people … it was not a random act.”

As of this writing, the sheriff’s department is still being assisted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab.

To recap:

At 11:28 p.m. Jan. 27, a caller phoned 911, reporting violence at the Careaga home near Lake Tahuyeh. Investigators later identified the caller as Hunter E. Schaap, 16, one of the victims.

At 11:35 p.m., Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue Engine 56 arrived at the home. Deputies searched outbuildings for other people and called in the King County sheriff’s helicopter to search the surrounding woods from the air.

At 11:55 p.m., firefighters extinguished the house fire and, after the smoke cleared, investigators entered and found three bodies. The three were later identified as Christale Lynn Careaga, 37; her son, Johnathon F. Higgins, 16; and her husband’s stepson from a previous marriage, Hunter Schaap. The three were found in separate rooms of the home, Detective Lissa Gundrum said Feb. 3.

The home is situated on a large, forested lot. There was no evidence of forced entry and no evidence of a struggle. “Not that we can tell,” Gundrum said. However, the scene was altered by the house fire and the process of extinguishing the fire.

A search began for Christale’s husband, John, and his F-150 pickup. At 5:27 p.m. Jan. 29, investigators found the truck, and human remains at a tree farm in Mason County. The truck had been set on fire. The remains were identified on Jan. 31 as John Careaga; investigators say he had been murdered.

At 9 p.m., about 2.5 hours before violence broke out at his home, John Careaga was shopping at the Camp Union Store less than three miles from his home. The store’s video surveillance tape documented Careaga’s visit there.

Did he go home or was he intercepted? “We don’t have that information, and unfortunately there’s nobody to ask,” Gundrum said in an earlier interview. Investigators believe he was killed elsewhere. “We do feel that John was the focus because he was killed at a separate location than his family,” Gundrum said.

The Careagas had an authorized medical marijuana grow at their home, and investigators found some $60,000 in a safe at the home. The Careagas owned two businesses: Juanito’s Taqueria and Christale’s Java Hut on Kitsap Way. “… Detectives did locate some cash and secured it for safekeeping from the burned-out residence,” the sheriff’s department reported on its Facebook page. “This family were business owners and it is not unusual for a business owner to have cash on hand.”

Investigators do not believe the marijuana and cash were factors in the murders. “No,” Gundrum said, adding, “I should say, we don’t know if that was a motive, but that’s not where our focus is.”

At this point, investigators are not releasing the manner of death — that is, how the four died.

Meanwhile, an estimated 700 relatives and friends gathered Feb. 7 at GracePoint Church in Bremerton for a celebration of life in honor of the four.

Callers can remain anonymous

Investigators ask that anyone with information about the murders call Gundrum at 360-337-5669. Callers can remain anonymous.

Investigators are seeking any video of the roadway, between 7 p.m. Jan. 27 and 2 p.m. Jan. 29, on Holly Road, Lake Tahuyeh Road, Sandhill Road and Seabeck-Holly Road or the general area.

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound is offering a $4,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects. Call 1-800-222-TIPS or go to www.crimestoppers.com. Again, callers can remain anonymous.

Tags: ,