SEATTLE — Ashley Williams, 34, was a mother who struggled with addiction. Deana Powell is a foster parent who adopted two of her children – children who today are asking very difficult questions.
"She really, really tried to get sober and it was a hard road for her,” Powell said. "For me that's probably the most heartbreaking part is just thinking about how connected [her children] still feel to her and that they are not going to see her."
Brandon Gerner and Joshua Jones were arrested earlier this month in connection to the killings of Robert Leroy Frederick Riley, 57, and Ashley Nicole Williams, 34. They were found in the bushes on Nov. 16, 2023, under trash and debris in Maple Valley.
Williams and Riley had been shot, though Williams was also stabbed over 20 times. Court documents describe the events leading to their deaths as a drug deal gone bad.
Both Gerner and Jones are members of the Omerta White Supremacist Prison Gang, according to court documents. Gerner, who founded the group, is charged with first-degree murder and second-degree murder as well as first-degree animal cruelty and unlawful possession of a firearm. Jones is charged with two counts of first-degree felony rendering criminal assistance, as court documents say he was present during the killings but not directly involved, although he did assist in trying to hide the bodies.
"Well, it's obviously a relief. Relief that these guys are found. That they can't hurt anybody else," Powell said.
Powell said she's left with mixed emotions as her heart breaks for five young children left without their biological mother.
"I worked really hard to create that relationship with Ashely, she knew she could trust me with her children that she still had a connection to them that just because she lost her parental rights with the state she did not lose her parental rights with me,” she said.
Owner of slain horse reacts to arrests
A family whose horse was fatally shot in Pierce County last month said they have “partial closure” after two men were charged in the killing.
LeMon, who was beloved by neighbors, was found shot and killed Dec. 17. Police believe Brandon Gerner shot LeMon as “a sacrifice” for his friend who was shot and killed by deputies the previous day.
Fred Greer, who owned the horse, said the incident was “horrific,” but it makes it a little easier knowing that police have their suspect.
“I would call it partial closure, because they still need to go through the court system,” Greer said. “At least we know the why and how it happened.”
Greer said LeMon was his daughter’s horse. The two of them competed at Montana Western together and nationals in Austin, Texas. His daughter was living in Montana with her husband, but they didn’t have land, so Greer and his wife were caring for LeMon.
Greer remembered LeMon as a curious horse who was loved by the neighbors, who would say hello and feed him carrots.
“He was like a big dog,” Greer said. “If you went out with him you had to keep an eye on him. “
Greer said LeMon would grab a hammer or a screwdriver out of a toolbag if you weren’t looking, and one time LeMon took Greer’s cellphone from his back pocket.
After LeMon was killed, those neighbors poured out support for the Greers as they grappled with LeMon’s death.
“I think that’s helped quite a bit,” Greer said. “In fact our neighbors, their folks live in Texas and their church was praying for the person to be found, so there were a lot of prayers going out to help us.”