Suspect in Shelton double homicide shoots himself to end standoff in Oregon

The suspect in a double homicide in Shelton killed himself Wednesday after an hours-long standoff in Oregon.

The news came after Tara M. Abernathy, 32, and Kenneth E. Koonrad, 34, were found shot to death Tuesday in her Shelton home.

Acting on some tips, Mason County Sheriff’s Office detectives had tracked suspect Jared Abernathy, 33, and teamed up with law enforcement in Oregon for assistance.

Police in Pendleton, Oregon, located the suspect at a Motel 6, and the building was surrounded by law enforcement. Negotiations went on for about five hours, according to the department, until about 8 p.m., when police heard what sounded like a muffled gunshot inside the motel room. The suspect’s body was found in the room.

Abernathy was identified as the ex-husband of Tara Abernathy, and there had been reports of threats following their recent divorce, said Chief Criminal Deputy Ryan Spurling.

“He was our only suspect,” Spurling said, but the case is still under investigation.

Since 2008, Tara Abernathy had worked as a pharmacy technician with the Washington State Department of Corrections and had been recently promoted. She was a 2003 graduate of White River High School, where she graduated with her maiden name of Hislop. She also ran a small custom sign-painting business called My Signature Signery.

According to his Facebook page, Koonrad was a Montesano resident and single father of a 13-year-old son.

This story was originally published January 26, 2017 at 9:16 AM with the headline "Suspect in Shelton double homicide shoots himself to end standoff in Oregon."