KING COUNTY, Wash. — With just three days until Halloween, some residents are rethinking their decorations for the holiday after a string of vandalism hit a handful of neighborhoods in Covington and Kent.
"I was just like, 'Oh my god. Why? Why, why did they do this?" said 8-year-old Alyssa.
On Oct. 21, she and her mother Teresa St. Arnauld found a group had torn down their decorations around 12:20 a.m.
The question of "why?" is something several Covington residents are asking.
"I had goosebumps,” said St. Arnauld. “I didn't know if they were going to come back. I didn't know if this was a scouting trip of if they're going to take the skeleton and then come back and break through the door and do more damage."
St. Arnauld said the skeleton they took is named Skelly and is beloved by her daughter. Which, she said, makes this incident that much more frustrating.
"I want them stopped and I want them to go away,” said St. Arnauld. “I want them to understand like there's no point in this. Ok, fine, you do pranks. But do pranks on each other, don't do pranks on other people. They don't want it.”
St. Arnauld wasn't the only victim that night. Covington Police said it is aware of similar incidents throughout Covington and Kent this past week, likely caused by the same group.
St. Arnauld said she's heard from at least 10 people who experienced similar vandalism.
Covington police are actively investigating these crimes and said it potentially has one of the suspects identified.
Covington police said the suspects ditched Skelly off the side of the road a couple blocks away. Police said any amount of damage over $750 would be a felony. According to police, an individual can be imprisoned by up to 5 years for a class C felony and up to 10 years for class B felony.
In the meantime, this Covington mother and daughter are grateful they have each other and police were able to bring some relief back to their home.
"I was scared that Skelly wouldn't come back,” said Alyssa. “But now, he's here and I'm happy about that."