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Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Victims found in burned Kirkland house were murdered
KIRKLAND - Police on Wednesday announced a startling development in the investigation of a house fire that killed four people Monday. Investigators believe the four people were murdered, and that the fire was likely a cover up. Police have arrested a neighbor for investigation of murder and arson.The King County Medical Examiner announced Wednesday afternoon that all four died from multiple stab wounds to the neck.
Kirkland Police Captain Eric Olson said detectives served a search warrant at a neighbor's house around 2:15, and arrested a man who lived there. No information on a possible motive was released.
The fire broke out just after 11:30 a.m. Monday in the 9200 block of Slater Avenue, near Forbes Lake. Firefighters arrived to find smoke pouring from the two-story home.
It took fire crews about 30 minutes to get the fire out, and several hours to stabilize the building enough so that they could go inside.
Kirkland Fire Marshall Grace Steuart said that when investigators were able to enter the home they found the bodies of two adults and two children in an upstairs room of the house.
The names of those who died were not officially released, but a relative of the family, Pavel Milkin of Mill Creek, said Tuesday the victims were his daughter-in-law Olga Milkin, her sister, Lyuba Botvin, 24, who also lived in the house, and Olga's two sons, Justin Milkin, 5, and Andrew Milkin, 3.
Olga's husband, Sgt. Leonid Milkin, 29, is a member of the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion, most of which is in Afghanistan, but has been on special assignment in Baghdad since September and is currently assigned to the 415th Military Intelligence Battalion.
Sgt. Milkin was told of the fire and was returning to the area, most likely on an emergency leave, Maj. Philip Osterli of the Washington National Guard said Tuesday.
Army officials at Fort Lewis were helping the National Guard coordinate a grant for funeral expenses, Osterli said.
Neighbors reported the fire at the Kirkland home late Monday morning, and none of those who died had a chance to escape, fire officials said. The bodies were all found on the second floor, Steuart said.
Pavel Milkin says his family is of Russian origin, having moved from Ukraine and to Estonia and then to the United States in 1989 through a sponsor in Everett. He found work as a welder, and the family lived in an apartment before moving to Mill Creek, he said.
The couple met at a Pentecostal church, married seven years ago and lived with the father in Mill Creek home before buying the Kirkland house about three years ago, he said.
Kirkland Police have set up a tip-line for those who might have any additional information in the case. You're asked to call (425) 587-3515.
A memorial fund for the family has been set up as well. You can donate at any U.S. Bank branch under the account name "Kirkland House Fire Volunteers."
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