In the quiet community of Olalla, Washington, the lives of 51-year-old Mina Shulz and her husband Steven were brought to a violent end on August 18, 2022. The couple, who were the owners of a local microbrewery called E2W Brewing, were discovered at their home on Shady Glen Avenue after their daughter grew concerned and went to check on them. Upon her arrival, she found signs of forced entry and blood within the residence, prompting a call to 911.
Responding Kitsap County Sheriff's
deputies made a grim discovery on the property, locating the bodies of both Mina and her husband. An investigation determined they had died from "homicidal violence," later specified as gunshot wounds. Court documents would later reveal the horrifying detail that their bodies had been placed in a garbage can on their property. The investigation into the double homicide pointed to a burglary that had been interrupted. Evidence at the scene, including shattered glass from a door, indicated a forced entry into the master bedroom where drawers had been ransacked. Among the items stolen were a handgun and Mina Shulz's wallet.
The investigation quickly led to a suspect, 40-year-old Shaun D. Rose, who had been living in an RV on a neighboring property. A felony murder warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was considered armed and dangerous. A multi-agency manhunt ensued, with Rose leading authorities on a chase through multiple counties after being spotted driving a stolen vehicle. His attempt to evade capture involved erratic and dangerous driving, abandoning one stolen car and taking another before he was finally apprehended after a struggle at a gas station in Tacoma.
Following his arrest, Shaun D. Rose was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. He initially pleaded not guilty but later changed his plea to guilty. In March 2023, Rose was sentenced to more than 66 years in prison for the murders of Mina and Steven Shulz. Prosecutors asserted that the killings occurred when the couple interrupted Rose as he was burglarizing their home, and instead of fleeing, he chose to kill them. At the sentencing, the couple's daughter delivered an emotional statement, speaking of the immense loss and the haunting final moments of her parents' lives. The judge acknowledged that drug use was a contributing factor in the tragic and senseless crime.
