Police in Washington state have announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with the murder of a missing elderly man who was doused with fentanyl by a pair he trusted through a dating app.
Mercer Island Police released a statement saying Philip J. Brewer, 32, and Christina Hardy, 47, hatched an elaborate plan to trick and kill Curtis Engelland, 74. It was announced that he had been indicted on charges of.
Police said Brewer and Hardy met Engelland several months ago and are believed to have defrauded him of money.
Police also believe the suspects then violently confronted Engelland at his home on Mercer Island late on the night of February 23, and left Mercer Island in Engelland’s car that night.
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Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder of missing Mercer Island resident Curtis Engelland, 74. (Washington State Patrol)
The following day, February 24, police announced that Engelland’s family had filed a missing person’s report. Mercer Island police initially responded to Engelland’s residence and began investigating his disappearance as a missing persons case. It was initially unclear whether he left of his own accord or was taken, and a Silver Alert was issued by the Washington State Patrol.
Police said subsequent evidence showed Engelland was dead and the suspect was no longer in the Mercer Island area.
Mercer Island police detectives and the King County Sheriff’s Office search and rescue team conducted a targeted search for Engelland’s body in Grays Harbor County based on clues from evidence. According to police, the search area was determined using the GPS location history of the suspect’s mobile phone.
Over the next week, detectives compiled forensic information that showed the suspects fled Washington state and fled south shortly after the victim was killed, renting another vehicle to cover the route and acquiring a new cell phone. It was determined that they had been exchanged.
According to probable cause documents obtained by Fox 13, Brewer and Hardy injected another person with fentanyl to kill Engeland, then drove to Cosmopolis in Grays Harbor County to hide the body. I admitted that. But at the dump, the suspects realized Engelland was still alive and stabbed him in the neck, Fox 13 reported.
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The Washington State Patrol issued a Silver Alert on February 29th after 74-year-old Curtis Engeland was reported missing. He was later found dead. (Washington State Patrol)
The coroner determined Engelland’s cause of death was “sharp impact injuries to the neck.”
According to investigators, Brewer used the dating app Scruff to gain Engelland’s trust.
Documents obtained by FOX 13 say Engelland knew something was wrong as soon as he woke up in his home after meeting Brewer for the first time in January, before the murder.
Fox 13 reported that the documents state that Brewer and Engelland spoke for about a week before their first date. According to court documents, Engelland invited Brewer to a movie, but he fell asleep.
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When Engelland woke up, Brewer was reportedly gone, along with Engelland’s wallet, cell phone, house keys, car keys, driver’s license and Social Security card.
Fox 13 reported that Brewer, Hardy and Hardy’s son tried to move into Engiland’s home, claiming that Engiland was allowing them to stay in the home. The documents state that the suspects also used the victim’s cell phone to create an alibi.
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The suspects were taken into police custody in California on March 14 and are being held on $5 million bail, but will be extradited to Washington to face murder charges.
“First and foremost, we must acknowledge Mr. Engelland’s family. When this case was first reported to the police as a missing person, we expected a better outcome.” Mercer Island Police Chief Ed Holmes said. “The family has remained committed to cooperating with our investigation over recent weeks, and we hope they can find some solace through the hard work being undertaken to bring justice to Curtis and his loved ones.” We are grateful for the community’s support as the police were ineffective.”Until the suspect is apprehended, we will continue to share sensitive law enforcement information with the public and resolve this issue. Please know that it is difficult to wait for answers after such a terrible situation. ”
