SKAGIT COUNTY, Wash. — A man who went missing from the scene of a house fire in Skagit County last week is now accused of murder after three people were found shot inside the home.
On Aug. 9, a house fire broke out in the 15000 block of state Route 530 about 5 miles south of Rockport, according to the Mount Vernon Police Department.
Firefighters located the victims, identified as 52-year-old Erin Birman, her 19-year-old son Taylor Dawson and his 18-year-old girlfriend Jillian Whitney Van Boven. The Skagit County Coroner’s Office determined all three victims had been shot, which contributed to their deaths.
"I'm devastated," said GuruBani Whitney Young, the mother of Van Boven. "I just lost my daughter and I didn't just lose her to sickness or an accident, this was something that was done to her and her sweet boyfriend. That somebody didn't regard her as important, it pisses me off."
A warrant was issued for the arrest of 49-year-old Jason Birman, who is now wanted for three counts of second-degree murder. Investigators said Jason Birman, Erin Birman's husband, lived at the address and was at the home leading up to the fire.
Investigators are searching for his blue 1994 Chevy pickup truck with a Washington license plate number C67636L.
Van Boven's parents told KING 5 their daughter and Dawson were a perfect match for each other.
"They would have totally protected each other, which is so poignant that they went together," her mother said. "I hate that my daughter's life ended in terror, but if it was going to end, at least she wasn't by herself."
Van Boven's parents no longer live together but live in the Rockport area, which allows each of them to spend time with their only child.
"I just feel incredibly lucky that I got to spend a period of my life, in my prime, with someone who wanted to go on so many adventures and do so many amazing things," said Matthew Van Boven, Jillian's father. "She had a lot of spunk and wildness in her, which is perfect. That's how I live."
"She was the most amazing child," Young said. "I have so many memories of her. The love I have for her has no place to go except to continue loving her, but I can't pass down family heirlooms, I can't go through and help her create the dreams she wanted, or to make sure they're manifested. It got taken from her too soon."
The residence, surrounding buildings and vehicles on the property had extensive damage, which police said made recovery efforts challenging. Skagit County Search and Rescue searched 4.5 acres of heavily wooded area, and the aviation branch of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol conducted aerial reconnaissance.
Anyone with information on Jason Birman's whereabouts is asked to call the tip line at 360-661-2319. If you witnessed the incident or have information that would assist investigators, you are asked to call 360-428-3211 or call Mount Vernon police at 360-336-6271.