Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Sheriff Urquhart: Renton Killings Are "An Exceedingly Heinous Crime"

King County Sheriff John Urquhart, in an early afternoon news conference, explained that the elderly couple were not shot but they were killed in a brutal manner. The suspect is their grandson, Michael Chadd Boysen, 26.

King County Sheriff John Urquhart issued a grave warning Monday about the missing suspect in the Renton double homicide, saying that man might be stockpiling weapons and priming for more violence.

"We don't want another Maurice Clemmons situation," Urquhart said Monday. Urquhart, speaking at a Seattle news conference, was making reference to the man who killed four Lakewood police officers in 2009.

Suspected in the murders of his grandparents in Renton late Friday or early Saturday, Michael Chadd Boysen also told people he wanted to kill more of his family and law enforcement, investigators revealed Monday.

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“The risk is extreme," Urquhart said. "I can’t emphasize that enough.”

Investigators revealed a handful of new details about the killing of the elderly Renton couple over the weekend. Boysen, who has a history of drug addiction, had been released from prison Friday.

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Family members had arranged for him to stay with his grandparents, identified by KING 5 as Robert and Norma Taylor who live in the Fairwood neighborhood. That night, the family had a welcome home party for Boysen, who had served time for burglary, investigators said.

After the party, family members said they received a text from Norma, 82, who thanked everyone for coming. Boysen was supposed to stay with another relative the next evening.

This relative, investigators said, showed up the next morning to pick up Boysen.

But no one answered the door. Concerned, the relative called the Taylor's daughter. Later in the day, she came to the home and also knocked, investigators said.

Again, no answer. When she let herself into the home, she found her parents' bodies. Missing were Boysen and the couple's 2001 Chrysler 300.

“We are at a loss as to why he killed them," Urquhart said.

Local law enforcement, aided by U.S. Marshals, are searching the Pacific Northwest for the man whom they consider dangerous. On Sunday, officials said they have "no idea" where Boysen might have gone.

Investigators have asked that anyone with information about Boysen -- described as as a white male, 5'10" and 170 pounds -- or the missing car, a red 2001 Chrysler 300, license plate 046-XXU, call 911 immediately.

Authorities did not release a cause of death.

“The autopsies are not complete yet," Urquhart said. "They were not shot.”

King County Superior Court records show Boysen was convicted of first-degree (armed) and second-degree robbery in 2006. He was charged with robbing a Dairy Queen where he worked of about $800 in cash, as well as a QFC, and two Bartell’s drug store, the latter two for the drugs Oxycodone and Oxycontin.

He was sentenced to six years and five months in prison for those convictions, both felonies. The records also show a charge of trafficking in stolen property in 2006 that was dismissed as part of a plea arrangement.

His most recent conviction was for attempted residential burglary in 2012, for which he was sentenced to prison for one year and 4.5 months.

Urquhart said investigators believe Boysen didn't have a weapon when he left. But given his computer searches prior to leaving -- he was looking for gun shows in the Pacific Northwest -- detectives believe he's trying to aquire them.

“We need to do everything we can to get this man off the street as soon as possible,” said Sheriff John Urquhart.  “His threats against authority figures make him very dangerous and unpredictable.”

Related Coverage: Fairwood Town Hall Meeting Planned in Wake of Double Killings


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