Today we are announcing the filing of aggravated first degree murder charges against Michele Anderson and Joseph McEnroe.

We allege in the information supporting these charges that on Monday, Christmas Eve, while most families in the Puget Sound area were preparing to gather for an evening of fellowship, the defendants were preparing for an evening of murder.

Wayne and Judy Anderson owned a home on several acres near Carnation. Michele Anderson lived down a hill from her parents' home, in a mobile home which she shared with her boyfriend Joseph McEnroe.

Wayne and Judy Anderson had planned to spend Christmas Eve with Michele and Joseph, as well as their son Scott and his wife Erika, and their two young grandchildren Olivia, age 6 and Nathan, age 3. Wayne and Judy expected Scott and his family to arrive around 5:00 pm.

While Judy Anderson was busy wrapping Christmas presents for her grandchildren, the defendants were in their trailer, arming themselves with two handguns they had purchased this past summer. We allege that Michele Anderson armed herself with a .9 mm handgun, concealed it in a sweatshirt wrapped around her arm and walked up the hill to begin a lethal confrontation with her family. Joseph McEnroe, armed with a .357 magnum handgun, was at her side as she headed to the family home.

The motive for this crime may never be fully understood, but it appears that Michele Anderson was angry at her brother Scott, who she believed owed her money. She was also angry at her father Wayne and mother Judy, apparently over their lack of support for her.

As the defendants entered the home, Michele confronted her father Wayne. We allege that Michele fired her gun once at her father's head, but missed. McEnroe stepped in, leveled his gun and fatally shot Wayne Anderson in the head. Judy Anderson heard the shots and ran from the back room where she had been wrapping gifts. We allege that she was shot once in the head by defendant McEnroe.

For the next 30 to 45 minutes, the two defendants prepared for the arrival of Scott Anderson's family. They dragged the bodies of Judy and Wayne Anderson out of the home to a shed behind the house. They used towels and carpets to clean up blood stains. They burned evidence in a fire pit on the property. Then they waited for Michele's brother Scott, his wife Erika and Olivia and Nathan to arrive.

Scott Anderson arrived with his family and entered his parent's home. He was confronted by Michele Anderson as soon as he entered the living room. We allege that Scott Anderson was shot multiple times by his sister and also by McEnroe. Scott's wife Erika witnessed this murder and ran for the phone to call 911. Michele Anderson shot her sister-in-law twice as she ran for the phone. Erika was unable to speak to the 911 operator before McEnroe took the phone away from her. Defendant McEnroe then shot her two additional times. In this small room, witnessing this horror was six-year-old Olivia Anderson and her three-year-old brother Nathan. We allege that McEnroe spoke to each child and apologized for what he was about to do. The evidence will show that McEnroe then shot each child in the head from close range.

In the span of one hour, the defendants had turned this family's Christmas Eve celebration into a scene of mass murder.

On Christmas Day, the Anderson property was silent.

The investigation into what the defendants did after the murders is continuing, but it appears that they drove -- first north toward Canada, then south toward Oregon, arriving at neither destination -- in an evolving plan to avoid detection. They eventually decided to go back to the property and pretend to discover the bodies. They may have disposed of the firearms during this time. No guns have been recovered yet.

On Wednesday morning, the day after Christmas, when Judy Anderson had not arrived promptly at her job at the Carnation Post Office, a co-worker went out to the home, walked around the locked gate and discovered the crime scene. About two hours later, while Sheriff's deputies began to process the scene, defendants Michele Anderson and Joseph McEnroe drove up in their pickup truck. They claimed initially to be unaware of the murders. After being separated and interviewed at length the two were eventually booked into jail.

Today we are filing six counts of aggravated first-degree murder against each of these defendants. We are alleging the existence of two aggravating factors:

* First, in each case that there were multiple victims and the murders were carried out as a part of a common scheme or plan or the result of a single act;

* Second, in the murders of Erika, Olivia and Nathan Anderson that the murders were committed to conceal the commission of a crime, that is, the murder of Scott Anderson, or to protect or conceal the identity of the person committing a crime.

If convicted of aggravated murder, the penalty under law is either life in prison without possibility of release, or the death penalty.

As you know, the prosecuting attorney has 30 days from the date of arraignment to decide whether or not to file a notice declaring our intention to pursue the death penalty. During this period of time, we review the facts of the case, and consider any mitigating circumstances including any facts or issues that the defense may want to present. Given the magnitude of this crime, I pledge to give this case serious consideration for application of our state's ultimate punishment. But that decision is for another day.

Today, in addition to filing these charges, we want to join with those in our community who are grieving the loss of three generations of the Anderson family. We acknowledge too, the loss suffered by the Mantle family, the mother, step-father, brother and sister of Erika Anderson. The loss is profound and immeasurable. It impacts not only those who knew the Andersons, but all of us who desire to live in a peaceful community.

There is a natural tendency to look for a motive to try and make some sense of a violent crime like this. It is part of our investigation, but a search for a rational motive it is often a frustrating endeavor. In the end, what motive could you find that would make sense of the senseless slaying of the Anderson family?

While we share the community's distress over this crime, we are grateful, however, to be able to join our efforts with those professionals in the Sherriff's Office, the Medical Examiner's Office and the Crime Lab. Together we will work to uncover the truth and seek justice for those whose lives were so violently taken away.

Dated: December 28, 2007