Jack Arnold Silverthorne, 20, sits in Lewis County Superior Court as he is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 16-year-old Austin King.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The 20-year-old accused of killing Morton teenager Austin King is one of the two “buddies” he went off to watch television with the last time Austin’s mother saw her son alive.
Jack Arnold Silverthorne was charged today with first-degree murder in Lewis County Superior Court in Chehalis.
Austin died from blunt force to his head, his skull was cracked above his right ear, Senior Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher said today. He said the teen was struck with “something very hard”.
Authorities believe Silverthorne took Austin up into the woods after a birthday party at Austin’s family home the night of June 22, and his motive was related to an attraction to a girl, the mother of Austin’s child, according to Meagher and charging documents.
The 16-year-old vanished from his family’s home in the Tilton River Mobile Home Park early on June 23 and was the subject of a month-long search headed up by volunteers. His body was found some 10 miles away off a logging road outside Morton.
Silverthorne was shackled at his waist and ankles as he he faced a judge this afternoon.
The 6-foot-2 young man answered “yes sir” when he was addressed by Judge James Lawler.
Silverthorne is unemployed and receives public assistance of about $500 a month, defense attorney Bob Schroeter told the judge. He has no criminal history in Washington, Schroeter said.
First -degree murder is a class A felony with a possible penalty of life in prison and a $50,000 fine. Its elements include intent and premeditation.
Bail was set at $2 million, as requested by the prosecutor’s office.
Meagher said they feared the suspect was about to flee the country.
Outside the courtroom, Schroeter described his client as a really nice young man with very good family support. The attorney indicated he was skeptical of the investigation.
“There were numerous people at that party,” Schroeter said. “The fact it took them so long to focus on anybody is a concern.”
Charging documents filed today in the case describe several reasons sheriff’s detectives believe Silverthorne is responsible for Austin’s death. The following are some of the findings alleged in the documents:
Silverthorne was staying in the trailer park with his grandmother at the time of Austin’s disappearance. He currently is living with his mother in Renton.
The day after Austin’s body was found, Lewis County sheriff’s detectives got a call from a neighbor in Renton who alerted them to Silverthorne’s recently broken hand.
Two different doctor’s described the injury as a “boxer’s break” consistent with striking something with a closed fist. Silverthorne said it happened when he fell by the river, but detectives noted inconsistent statements as to when it occurred.
Cigarette butts on the road above where Austin’s body was found had DNA belonging to both Silverthorne and Austin – and a third unidentified person.
The body was found down an embankment, some 42 feet off the unmaintained Forest Service road.
Detectives got information from both Austin’s girlfriend whom he had been talking with that night on the phone, and from the third person watching television with Austin that night about statements made by Silverthorne about wanting to take a drive up into the mountains.
Detectives discovered a gap in any phone calls or texts made from Silverthorne’s cell phone that night, and found a Facebook friend that Silverthorne allegedly told he would like to “beat” the child’s father.
Silverthorne told detectives he last was up in the woods on June 17, alone.
The other “buddy” that went off to the teen’s detached bedroom in a “shack” outside the family mobile home that night said he went home at 12:15 a.m.
Roger Hughes told detectives the three of them smoked cigarettes, rearranged Austin’s furniture and listened to music. But Hughes said he wasn’t feeling good – he had been drinking vodka and orange juice – so he went home, threw up and went to bed. His grandparents confirmed the time, according to charging documents.
Silverthorne told detectives he left Austin “seconds” after Hughes did and went home. Silverthorne’s grandmother could not confirm that, documents say.
Austin was one of four children who lived with his mother, Christy Harper. His father Shaun King lives in Chehalis. He has numerous brothers and sisters, according to family members.
His mother has described the 5-foot-8 160-pound boy as a teen who liked to play video games, listen to music and watch movies. She said he was being home-schooled.
More than 200 people gathered at Gust Backstrom Park in Morton for a vigil in July, three days after his body was discovered, including a plain-clothed detective who talked with Silverthorne there.
Silverthorne was arrested yesterday without incident at his home in Renton.
Sheriff’s detectives are still waiting for the DNA results from under Austin’s fingernails.
Centralia attorney J.P. Enbody was appointed to represent Silverthorne. His arraignment is scheduled for next week.
A collection of photographs of Austin King is displayed on a picnic table in the park in Morton during a vigil in July.
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Read more about the case by scrolling down to “Breaking news: Renton man, 20, arrested for murder in death of Austin King” or by clicking here
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