The identities of the four bodies recovered from the trailer have not yet been confirmed by the coroner, but police told KIRO on Sunday that they're "reasonably certain" the bodies found in the burned trailer are Valerie Kambeitz and her children, ages 5, 6 and 9 years old.
"We are shocked and horrified about [what] has happened to our family," the family wrote via GoFundMe. "We can not understand how someone could do this to them." https://t.co/dcnWrBzYnZ
— Michael Spears (@MichaelKIRO7) July 8, 2019
"We are shocked and horrified about [what] has happened to our family," wrote a family member in a GoFundMe created to help cover funeral costs. "We can not understand how someone could do this to them."
Port Angeles police say they’ve arrested the woman’s husband, Matthew Wetherington, who lived with the family. He was booked into jail on suspicion of four counts of first-degree murder and arson. Investigators do not believe there are any other suspects at large.
JUST IN: Port Angeles PD says Matthew Timothy Wetherington, age 34, of Port Angeles was booked in jail for arson, 4 counts of murder. There are 2 crime scenes in this case. The Welcome Inn and the camp site in Lincoln Park where Wetherington was found. He will be in court Monday. pic.twitter.com/nnfOVEm0ls
— KIRO 7 Brooke (@KIRO7Brooke) July 7, 2019
KIRO learned Saturday Wetherington is a Level III sex offender, whose previous convictions include child molestation and burglary with sexual motivation.
Port Angeles police said in a Facebook post that Wetherington was seen running from the scene at the Welcome Inn Trailer Park on Highway 101 “just as the fire suddenly erupted” around 2:30 a.m. Saturday.
Wetherington was later located camping out in Lincoln Park, according to police, and booked into jail. He’s expected to make his first court appearance at 1 p.m. Monday.
Federal and state investigators were called in to help process both the mobile home that burned and the area where Wetherington was taken into custody.
Police have not yet released a possible motive.
A family friend told KIRO that a vigil is planned for the family at 5 p.m. Monday at the Port Angeles City Pier.
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