Sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release, three men found guilty of killing a family in Washington state in 2017 over drug and money charges were given this punishment.
Following testimony from the victims’ relatives in court on Tuesday, Superior Court Judge Kevin Hull sentenced Danie Kelly Jr., 45, Robert Watson III, 52, and Watson’s brother Johnny Watson, 50. The Kitsap Sun reported.
Four life sentences were imposed on each guy, one for each conviction of first-degree murder. Due to their convictions for attempted murder and possession of enhanced firearms, they were all given longer sentences. In April they were found guilty by a jury.
On January 27, 2017, Christale Careaga, 37, Hunter Schaap, and Johnathon Higgins, 16, were discovered dead in their set-ablaze house on the Kitsap Peninsula, west of Seattle. At a tree farm, the 43-year-old man’s bones were discovered inside a burned-out truck.
In Bremerton, the Careagas established a prosperous Mexican eatery. According to detective reports, John Careaga also imports cocaine from California once or twice a month to resell locally.
Robert Watson, who detectives described as the head of a local branch of the Bandidos motorcycle gang, bought the cocaine from him through a close acquaintance, according to the authorities. The killings, according to the investigators, had nothing to do with the club.
After a while, Careaga’s acquaintance stopped selling, and the next time Careaga went to California for the narcotics, Robert Watson went “on John’s heels.” The two continued to communicate up to the day of the killings, according to the detectives.
Authorities were informed by John Careaga’s lawyer that his client had hundreds of thousands of dollars stashed beneath his house, but the money was never discovered.
In 2017, more than $300,000 was placed into Robert Watson’s accounts, according to investigators’ court filings, and there were “numerous cash deposits that the source could not be identified.”
Detectives added that Kelly was a “hang-around” with the Bandidos and that, prior to their falling out, she had been Careaga’s close friend.
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On the day of the killings, a neighbor of the Careagas heard gunshots at the house and saw John Careaga’s vehicle rushing away, Kelly driving and another car trailing closely behind.
Throughout the trial, the defense team attempted to challenge the chronology and the cellular towers that were utilized to monitor the trio’s whereabouts. They maintained that there was insufficient proof of any items being removed from the Careaga residence.
In court, the victims’ relatives spoke of the suffering the blended family has endured since their deaths.
According to reports, John Careaga was a devoted uncle and father who would keep the nine kids who depended on him amused.
Johnathon Higgins was termed a “big teddy bear,” Crystal Careaga was characterized as a gregarious and infectious “bright light,” and Hunter Schaap was praised for his bravery, especially on the night of the murders when he called 911 to report intruders at the family home.
Kelly turned down the chance to testify in court, as did the Watson brothers.
