Catherine Marie Eneas-Squeochs, a 49-year-old woman and an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, was tragically killed on June 8, 2019, in a devastating outbreak of gun violence in White Swan, Washington. She was one of five victims who lost their lives in the incident that shook the small community on the Yakama Indian Reservation.
Born on February 20, 1970, Catherine was raised on her family's ranch in White Swan.
She was deeply connected to her cultural heritage as a longhouse cook and gatherer. Her life was cut short in a violent act that also claimed the lives of four other individuals: Dennis Overacker, 61; John Cagle, 59; Michelle Starnes, 51; and Thomas Henry Stout Hernandez, 36. The Yakima County Sheriff's Office later indicated that the mass murder was likely drug-related.
In the aftermath of the killings, law enforcement launched an extensive investigation. Two men were ultimately charged in connection with the homicides. The investigation also revealed that following the killings, the suspects allegedly took a child hostage. After a manhunt, the final suspect in the White Swan homicides was apprehended, bringing a close to the search for those believed to be responsible for the deaths of Catherine Marie Eneas-Squeochs and the four other victims.
