Update: Detectives Arrest Second Suspect for Murder
On July 6, 2020, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives arrested a second suspect believed to be involved in the murder of a transient male at a camp located near the 2300 block of E. Farwell Road.
As the murder investigation continued, investigators identified a second suspect as 22-year-old Pierre D. Rhodes.
Rhodes was out of jail on bond stemming from a June 2020 incident where he is suspected of hitting a female victim over the head with a metal chair and charged with Assault 2nd Degree. Rhodes, currently on active supervision by the Washington State Department of Corrections, is a six-time convicted felon (convictions include: Assault 2nd, Assault 3rd, Burglary 2nd, Criminal Mischief with a Deadly Weapon and Take Motor Vehicle w/o Permission) and transient.
He was located at a hotel on July 6, 2020, by members of the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Taskforce, who were asked to assist with locating Rhodes.
Major Crimes Detective Nathan Bohanek booked Rhodes into the Spokane County Jail for Murder 1st Degree after Rhodes declined to make any statement or answer questions.
At this time, Detectives believe they have identified and arrested all the suspects involved in this murder, however, this remains an active investigation and additional charges are possible.
The first suspect arrested, 37-year-old Robert J. Tolliver, is also a convicted felon (Theft) remains in custody at the Spokane County Jail with bond set at $500,000.
Rhodes’ bond was set at $1,000,000 for the Murder 1st Degree charge. He is also being held on an unrelated Assault 2nd Degree charge where his bond is set at $75,000.
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Original Release from July 6, 2020.
Detectives Investigate Murder at a Homeless Camp
Spokane County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Detectives are investigating the murder of a transient male at a camp located on E. Farwell. Investigators identified a suspect who was later located and arrested for Murder 1st Degree. This remains an active investigation.
On July 4, 2020, at approximately 10:40 p.m., Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call of a deceased male in a tent located in the woods near the 2300 block of E. Farwell Road.
The caller stated he discovered his friend, a 41-year-old transient male, had passed away. He waited at the roadway and walked Deputies and Fire personnel to the location. Medics checked the victim, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Major Crimes Detective responded to continue the investigation.
Through the investigation, it was determined the male appeared to have died due to blunt force trauma as the result of a dispute/theft. A suspect, 37-year-old Robert J. Tolliver, was identified and later located at a different homeless camp in the 11600 block of N. Newport Hwy. where he was arrested without incident.
Tolliver was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Murder 1st Degree.
The Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the decedent at a later time, when appropriate.
This remains an active investigation as Detectives work to determine what led to the death of the victim.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call Crime Check at 509-456-2233, reference #10086228.
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