7 years later, Carnation killings trial to begin

SEATTLE — Seven years after six family members were killed in Carnation on Christmas Eve, a King County judge is nearly ready to begin hearing the case against one of the two people charged with six counts of aggravated first-degree murder.

A jury was chosen in the case against Joseph McEnroe, which is scheduled to begin with opening statements on Jan. 12, The Seattle Times reported.

McEnroe and his former girlfriend, Michele Anderson, are each charged with six counts of aggravated first-degree murder in connection with the Dec. 24, 2007, shooting deaths of Anderson’s parents, brother, sister-in-law, 5-year-old niece and 3-year-old nephew.

King County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ramsdell said in court earlier this week that jury selection has been a rigorous, grueling process.

According to Ramsdell, 3,000 summonses were mailed to prospective jurors. That group was whittled down to 55 last week and then on Friday, seven men and nine women were selected to serve as jurors in a trial that could stretch into May.

Though only 12 will participate in deliberations, the jurors don’t yet know which four of them will be designated as alternates.

Both cases have experienced a number of delays, largely due to repeated trips to the state Supreme Court. The justices have reversed Ramsdell’s orders on three separate occasions.

The high court is again being asked to weigh in, though it’s unclear what, if any, impact that will have on McEnroe’s trial.

On Friday, Ramsdell — noting the anniversary of the killings — denied a request by Senior Deputy Prosecutor Scott O’Toole to postpone opening statements another week.

“I owe it to the public and the jurors to make sure this case moves forward on time,” he said.

Defense costs through October have totaled $4.06 million in McEnroe’s case, and $4.58 million in Anderson’s case, according to the King County Department of Public Defense.

The combined cost of prosecuting both defendants — which does not include costs associated with the criminal investigation or work done by the State Patrol’s crime lab — is roughly $1.06 million through November, said Dan Donohoe, a spokesman for Prosecutor Dan Satterberg.

Anderson, also 36, has a September 2015 trial date, though it’s unclear if two recent developments could push her trial out further.

After Anderson’s competency was challenged for the third time earlier this year, Ramsdell ruled in October that she is competent to stand trial. Her attorneys, Colleen O’Connor and David Sorenson, have since filed a motion with the Supreme Court seeking discretionary review of Ramsdell’s competency ruling.

They’ve also filed a motion seeking Ramsdell’s permission to withdraw from the case, citing a “complete and irreparable breakdown” in communication with Anderson.

Both motions related to Anderson are to be heard in early January.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Washington law will allow traffic cams on more city, county roads

The move, led by a Snohomish County Democrat, comes as roadway deaths in the state have hit historic highs.

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lakewood School District’s new levy pitch: This time, it won’t raise taxes

After two levies failed, the district went back to the drawing board, with one levy that would increase taxes and another that would not.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.