UPDATED: Family Thankful To Renton Police And Others

Update 5:30 p.m. May 28

The following is a statement from the Scholl family following news of Jarod Lane's arrest earlier in the day.

“We, as Jessica Scholl's family, would like to thank the Renton Police Department and numerous other law enforcement
agencies for their diligence in searching for the person of interest. Especially thank you to the Oklahoma City Police
Department and News Channel 4's Adam Mertz and Mark Paris who helped to apprehend him.

We would like to take this opportunity to stress the importance of healthy relationships, and encourage everyone to
report known or suspected teen or domestic violence.

Our family has appreciated the way the media has respected our wishes to grieve and remember Jessica in private. We
have no further comment at this time.”

UPDATE, 6:30 a.m., May 28—Jarod T. Lane, the man wanted for questioning in the  was reportedly spotted in Oklahoma on Sunday. .

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UPDATE, 11 p.m., May 27—The Renton Police Department confirmed prior to Sunday's vigil that Jessica Scholl is the 17-year-old victim in Friday's homicide.

The Scholl family also released a statement on Sunday:

"On behalf of Jessica Scholl's entire family, we want to thank everyone for
their outpouring of support. Your prayers and thoughts have brought us comfort during this time of tragedy. We want to thank Jessica's classmates and teachers and all of our friends for helping us remember her.  We are especially grateful to the Renton Police and Fire Departments for their response and thoroughness in their work."

The police department had no additional information on Jarod T. Lane, who is wanted for questioning in the homicide and suspected arson at Scholl's home. Hundreds and hundreds packed the outside commons of Lindbergh High School Sunday night to remember Scholl and celebrate a life taken too short.

Many wore the blue, Scholl's favorite color, while students and family spoke of the bright and cheerful teenager who always had a smile on her face. From Lindbergh they walked to Scholl's house just two blocks away along a candle light path.

Renton Police closed S.E. 164th Street in front of the house for more than 30 minutes while the crowd sang songs and placed flowers on a growing memorial with balloons and letters to the Scholl family. Many at the vigil stated concerns for .

The Renton Police Department has a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence that live within Renton's city limits. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 immediately. Additional services are available at DAWN  or King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Should your child also be having a hard time dealing with this tragic loss, the Riverside Trauma Center  says parents should monitor their child’s reactions to this unexpected death. Feelings are only one way to measure how someone is doing. Behavior changes such as decreased appetite, social withdrawal, sleeping problems and physical sensations such as lack of energy, stomach pains, etc are also important clues.

Teens who are so overwhelmed with intense sadness, fear, or anger are at risk for engaging in high risk behavior: drinking, using drugs, driving too fast, etc. Additional support steps are provided on the Riverside Trauma Center website.

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UPDATE, 10:30 p.m., May 26— The Patch has learned there will be a candlelight vigil for the 17-year-old Lindbergh junior killed Friday (the Patch as not identified the girl since Renton Police nor King County Medical Examiner have officially released it).

The vigil will be at 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 27 at Lindbergh High School's lower lot.  They ask people to bring flowers, candles, and anything else you would like to line her pathway from the house to school. This event is for everyone to get together and pray for her family and friends, according to event organizers. Check back with Patch should there be any changes to the event. 

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UPDATE, 1:30 p.m., May 26— A memorial continues to grow outside the home where a 17-year-old girl was killed Friday morning. Classmates of the junior who attended nearby Lindbergh High School called her sweet and caring. The search for Jarod T. Lane continued today with Renton Police spoted at Lane's parents home north of Honey Dew Elementary. Police could not provide any additional information on the whereabouts of Lane or if anything was taken from the home.

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UPDATE, 12:55 p.m., May 25— From the Renton Police Department: Renton Police seek your assistance in locating Jarod T. Lane, who is wanted for questioning related to the homicide of a 17 year old female student of Lindbergh High School and the suspected arson of her residence.   Lane is described as a Caucasian male with a dark complexion, 5’09”, 152 pounds, brown eyes and brown or black hair.  He may be driving a green 2001 Mazda Protégé, Washington license 077YRD.

At 7:54 a.m. this morning, Renton Fire Department responded to a residential fire in the 12700 block of SE 164th Street.  The fire was extinguished within eight minutes of their arrival.  While quashing the fire, Firefighters located a 17 year old female on the second floor of the residence.  She was extracted to the yard outside the residence, and CPR was attempted but unsuccessful.  The victim’s injuries appear to be consistent with homicide.  Cause of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner.

The fire, described by Deputy Fire Chief Wallgren as a “contents fire,” appears to be an act of arson. Lane is known to have been at a gas station in North Bend sometime this morning, and is believed to be heading east.  If you see Lane or his vehicle, or have information about his whereabouts, please call 9-1-1 immediately.

He should be considered armed and dangerous.  If you have information about the homicide and arson, please contact the Renton Police Department at 425-430-7500. Editor's note: For more on the Lindbergh High School response, see this story.

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UPDATE, 12:30 p.m., May 25— The Renton Police Department has identified the person of interest as 19-year-old Jarod T. Lane. He's described as a caucasian with a "dark complection," with brown eyes and brown hair. He stands 5-feet-9-inches tall and weighs 152 pounds, according to his Washington state driver's license information.

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Original Post, 11 a.m., May 25— Investigators are searching for a person of interest following the discovery of the body of a 17-year-old Lindbergh High School student in her home Friday morning. Investigators said the person of interest, a young man, was driving a green Mazda Protege possibly with black wheels and Washington state license plate number of 077 YRD. He is believed to be headed to eastern Washington.

The young man's mother checked his online bank account this morning and it appeard the man purchased gas in North Bend shortly after the fire. Firefighters found the girl's body after receiving a 7:54 a.m. report of a fire at a home near the corner of S.E. 164th and 128th Ave. S.E. Renton Fire and Emergency Services arrived four minutes after the call and extinguished the fire within 10 minutes. It was when firefighters searched the home that they found the girl's body alone. Her parents have been notified but her identity had not been released.

The Renton School District notified parents at about 10:40 a.m. that a student had died before the start of school on Friday, said Lindbergh parent Kari Kopnick. The notice did not provide any further details. A girl who identified herself as an 11th-grade Lindbergh student spoke with Patch late Friday morning. She attempted to go to her friend's home near the homicide scene, but was turned away by police.

Students were told that the girl "died because of the fire," she said. "Everybody is crying. It's like silence." "I knew her as a person, but not personally," she said of the victim. Classes have remained on the normal schedule, according to the student.