In the quiet community of Colbert, Washington, a tragic story unfolded on May 26, 2015, claiming the life of 23-year-old John Robert Constable, a White/Caucasian male. On that Tuesday, what began as a response to an "illegal burn" call at a home on East Chattaroy Road quickly escalated into a homicide investigation. Firefighters arrived to find the residence engulfed in flames, a blaze that authorities would later determine was intentionally set to conceal a far more sinister act.
Inside the charred remains of the home, the bodies of John, his mother Lisa M. Canfield, 52, and his stepfather, Spokane Fire Lieutenant Terrance "Terry" Canfield, 59, were discovered.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that all three victims had died from gunshot wounds. The initial discovery of two bodies was followed by the location of the third victim some 15 hours later, painting a grim picture of the violence that had transpired. Investigators believed the perpetrator may have traveled from outside the area and urged the public for any information regarding suspicious individuals or vehicles seen in the vicinity around the time of the murders. The close-knit community was left in shock, struggling to comprehend the brutal loss of three of its members in such a violent manner.
The investigation swiftly led to an arrest. Four days after the discovery of the bodies, sheriff's deputies took Roy Murray, 30, into custody. Murray was the estranged husband of John Constable's sister. According to reports, Murray was an Iraq war veteran who suffered from post-traumatic stress. The motive appeared to be rooted in domestic turmoil, with Murray's estranged wife indicating that he believed her family, including her mother, stepfather, and brother, disliked him. The tragic deaths of John Robert Constable, Lisa Canfield, and Terry Canfield were a devastating blow to their family and the Spokane community, prompting an outpouring of grief and support for the loved ones left behind.
