FBI helping investigation as bail raised to $5 million each

RAYMOND – Investigation of the case of a Raymond couple relating to the disappearance of at least three people continues, according to Pacific County Sheriff John Didion.

David Knotek, 50, and his wife, Michelle Knotek, 49, were arrested Aug. 8 at their Monohon Landing Road residence near Raymond and jailed after a number of local witnesses began coming to sheriff’s deputies with information about the physical and mental abuse of two men and a woman who had lived with the Knoteks.

The witnesses told deputies of physical and emotional abuse of at least three people at the hands of the Knoteks that allegedly resulted in the death of a 57-year-old man, Ronald Woodworth, and a woman, Kathy Loreno, who had been reported missing by her mother in 1994.

According to an affidavit of public disclosure issued last week by Pacific County Prosecutor David Burke, the witnesses also provided information about a man, Shane Watson, who had been missing since around the time of the missing woman’s death.

During an arraignment for the Knoteks last Thursday, Judge Joel Penoyar raised the bail for the couple to $5 million each. Michelle Knotek was formally charged last Wednesday with murder in the first degree of Loreno and Woodworth. David Knotek was charged with first-degree murder of Watson, rendering criminal assistance in the first degree, and unlawfully disposing of human remains.

Michelle Knotek entered a not-guilty plea during the arraignment and David Knotek asked that his arraignment be continued at a later date.

Defense lawyers want new judgeBurke said Monday that David Knotek’s attorneys have filed an affidavit of prejudice against Penoyar, saying he wouldn’t give the couple a fair trial. “We’re now looking at possibly getting a Grays Harbor County judge to try the case,” Burke said. No date or location has been set for David Kotek’s arraignment.

Burke said each defendant has two attorneys – Scott Harmer of Pacific County and Joseph Enbody of Lewis County for Michelle Knotek and David Hatch of Elma and Nancy McAllister of Warrenton, Ore., for David Knotek. A trial date for Michelle Knotek was set for Oct. 13, but that could change, Burke said.

“We may have to arrange for additional resources during the trials so we can keep the office running,” Burke said, saying the amount of support from other counties is “phenomenal. We’re faced with a whole set of issues we’ve never had to deal with. It’s hard to say how this will play out.”

The enormity of the case that took sleepy little Raymond by surprise has kept everyone hopping at the courthouse, many working well into the night fielding calls from television and newspaper reporters who flocked to South Bend to cover the search of the Knoteks’ yard and their arraignment.

“Judge Penoyar called for a hearing at 6:30 p.m. Friday,” Burke said. “In all my 13 years in this office I’ve never seen that happen.” Arraignments and trials are routinely held in the afternoons at the court.

Didion said Monday his office is “continuing to process tips that are coming in on the case and investigating information we have developed. We’ll go where the evidence leads us and will explore everything associated with the case.” Didion said the chief of the South Bend Police Department has asked the sheriff’s office to assume jurisdiction on the case.

“Last week was pretty hectic,” Didion said. “We were searching at two scenes and trying to keep up with the information. Help from other agencies in the state is the only reason we’ve been able to keep up. The mutual assistance is really appreciated and it’s a good example of how we can help citizens all over the state.”

A task force was set up during the investigation including the King, Clark, Grays Harbor and Lewis County Sheriffs Offices, King County Medical Examiner’s Office and the South Bend and Raymond Police Departments.

Tip line set up A tip line has been set up by the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office at 875-9470 or 642-9395 for citizens with information about the case. “The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank those people who have called and offered tips regarding this case and encourages anyone who has any information to contact us,” PCSO Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Clark said.

Clark said Tuesday that the investigation continues with “investigators reviewing, cataloging and prioritizing tips received regarding the case.” He said the active search of the Knoteks’ property stopped Friday and items found on the property are being sent to the Washington State Crime Lab in King County.

“The property will be secured until Thursday when technology will be available from the FBI to further examine the scene and wrap up the search of the property,” he said.