3 men sentenced to life for killing family of 4 execution-style, burning house and car

KITSAP COUNTY, Wash. (TCD) -- Three men will spend the rest of their lives in prison for killing a wife and two children in their home, lighting it on fire, and fatally shooting the husband in his car.

The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday, May 7, that a judge sentenced Danie Kelly Jr., Robert Watson, and his brother Johnny Watson to life in prison without parole for the murders of John Careaga, 43, Christale Careaga, 37, Johnathon Higgins, and Hunter Schaap, both 16. The three men were found guilty of 30 charges total in April, including first-degree murder, premeditated murder, and arson.

The investigation began Jan. 27, 2017, at around 11:30 p.m., when Kitsap County Sheriff's Office deputies "received a desperate 911 call" from a home in Seabeck.

KCPQ-TV reports Schaap called 911 and said he and his whole family had been shot, adding, "I'm dying. I'm shot right now. My family's dead. When are you coming to me?"

First responders arrived and found the residence on fire and three deceased victims inside. They were identified as Schaap, Higgins, and Christale Careaga. Investigators at the time said they were "actively searching" for John Careaga, but his body was later found a few days later inside a burned pickup truck.

The sheriff's office said all four victims died of "homicidal violence." KCPQ reports the three family members found inside the home were killed "execution-style."

According to KCPQ, John Careaga and Kelly dealt drugs and were good friends, but Kelly reportedly stole money from him. Careaga reportedly hid tens of thousands of dollars on his property, but they went missing following the killings. Soon after, Robert Watson started depositing large sums of money into his bank account.

The suspects, however, were not arrested until five years after the killings, in June 2022.

The Kitsap Sun reports the trial lasted over five months.

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