John Allen Booth Jr. sits with defense attorney Bob Schroeter in a Chehalis courtroom this afternoon.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Prosecutors upgraded the charges when triple-homicide suspect John Allen Booth Jr. appeared in court today and said they may do so again, possibly charging the Onalaska man with aggravated first-degree murders, making it a potential death penalty case.
“I think we’ve indicated to the court we’re seriously considering that,” Deputy Prosecutor Brad Meagher told the judge this afternoon in the Chehalis courtroom.
Booth was shackled and wearing red and white striped jail garb when he faced Lewis County Superior Court Judge Richard Brosey.
Booth, 31, is accused in last weekend’s slayings inside a Onalaska-Salkum area home that left three people dead and one seriously wounded. The sheriff has said he believe the shootings were related to a drug debt collection.
The victims include David J. West Sr. 52, his son David J. West Jr., 16, and Tony E. Williams, 50, of Randle. Each died of a gunshot in the head, according to the coroner’s office.
The senior West’s live-in girlfriend, Denise Salts, 51, survived a gunshot wound to her face.
Booth remains held on $10 million bail.
His arraignment is scheduled for one week from this coming Thursday.
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More later.
Meanwhile, if you haven’t read Lewis County Sirens’ weekend story about how the state Department of Corrections revealed after the shootings that Booth and his community corrections officer didn’t meet for several months – when the minimum number of contacts required for a high risk violent offender is four times each month – click here.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter