On a summer morning in 2016, the life of 28-year-old Jackson L. Edens was tragically cut short. On June 22nd, in a camping trailer situated on Dutterow Road Southeast near Lacey, Washington, Edens and two others were found dead from gunshot wounds. The other victims were identified as 31-year-old Terron R. McGrath and 36-year-old Gerald M. Berkey. Edens and McGrath were residents of the trailer where the incident occurred.
The scene was discovered after a fourth individual, who had been
shot in the chest but survived, managed to call 911. The caller informed dispatchers that his friends were dead. Law enforcement officials tracked the man's cell phone signal to the trailer. Inside, they found the bodies of the three victims. Investigators noted that the nature of the crime scene suggested the shootings happened quickly and without a significant struggle. A substantial amount of methamphetamine and black tar heroin, along with several thousand dollars in cash and multiple firearms, were also discovered inside the trailer.
The investigation into the triple homicide led to two suspects: Enrique "Ricky" Lamere and Dugan Lawton. According to court documents, Lamere informed investigators that he and Lawton had gone to the trailer with the intention of robbing Edens. Lamere claimed that Lawton was the sole shooter in the incident. In a plea agreement with prosecutors, Lamere pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to 19 years in prison and agreed to testify against Lawton.
Dugan Lawton faced more severe charges for his alleged role in the killings. He was charged with three counts of first-degree aggravated murder while armed with a firearm, one count of first-degree attempted murder while armed with a firearm, and one count of first-degree burglary while armed with a firearm. The case against him proceeded to trial, marking a significant step towards bringing justice for the deaths of Jackson L. Edens and the other victims of that violent day.
