A welfare check on November 13, 2023, initiated the tragic story of Davido Koep, a 68-year-old White male, and his wife, Karen. When one of them failed to appear for work, deputies were dispatched to their home in the Lake Forest neighborhood of Thurston County. Inside, they discovered a disturbing scene: significant amounts of blood, the overwhelming smell of bleach, and clear signs that someone had attempted to clean up.
Investigators concluded the amount of blood found was "unsurvivable," and the couple was declared missing under suspicious circumstances.
The investigation quickly focused on Timothy Burke, a 45-year-old tenant who was renting space on a property owned by Davido Koep. Friends of the couple revealed that Davido was in the process of evicting Burke, who had sent "very negative" emails and, at one point, accused his landlord of putting something in the water. The couple's car was found abandoned in Lacey, and investigators found blood inside both their vehicle and a vehicle belonging to Burke. Shell casings from a. 45-caliber weapon belonging to Burke were also reportedly found inside the Koeps' home. Neighbors later reported hearing gunshots around 8 or 9 p.m. on the evening of November 10th.
Timothy Burke was arrested on November 17 while hiding from law enforcement off a trail. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping. For weeks, the location of the couple's bodies remained a mystery, causing immense grief for their family. Then, on December 2, two bodies were discovered on Joint Base Lewis-McChord land, not far from the couple's home. The Thurston County Coroner later confirmed the remains were those of Davido and Karen Koep.
The coroner's report determined that both Davido and his wife had died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and torso. Following the discovery, Burke was charged with aggravated murder and pleaded not guilty. He is being held in the Thurston County jail without bail.
