Steven Roy Siebert, a 60-year-old White male, was found deceased in his Sudden Valley, Washington home on January 21, 2014. The discovery was made by one of his sons that evening, who then contacted the authorities. Investigators found Mr. Siebert in the kitchen of his three-story residence on Lake Louise Drive, having been shot multiple times. It was quickly determined that his stepson, Joshua Aaron Adams, who lived nearby, was missing, as was the family's red Subaru Legacy and the family
dog.
Authorities immediately identified the 42-year-old Adams as a person of interest. Later that day, Adams was seen at a gas station on Highway 20 in Skagit County. He abandoned the Subaru and the dog and then stole a black Ford F-150 pickup truck. This initiated a 60-mile police chase southward into Island County. The chase involved multiple law enforcement agencies, and spike strips were used to disable the stolen truck. Even with damaged tires, Adams continued to drive for several more minutes before he was finally cut off and apprehended by a sergeant.
Following his arrest, Joshua Adams confessed to killing his adoptive father, telling detectives, "I'm a criminal, and I just killed my dad." However, he did not provide a clear reason for his actions. Relatives suggested that Adams, who had a history of mental health issues, had accused his stepfather of favoring his other grown children. Investigators learned that the 20-gauge shotgun used in the murder had been taken from an upstairs room in the Siebert home. Adams was initially charged with first-degree murder, but the charge was later reduced to second-degree murder in a plea deal. In March 2015, Adams was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder of his stepfather.
