Missing North Bend man named suspect in murder of wife, daughter

Police have filed charges against a missing man for the
murder of two North Bend women.

Peter Keller, 41, has been charged with two counts of
Murder in the First Degree. His wife, Lynette, 41, and
daughter Kaylene, 19, were found shot to death after their
family home was set on fire Sunday.

>>>Read the charging documents (pdf)

Police have been sifting through the burnt home where
they have discovered gas cans, bullet casings, and two
dead pets that also had gunshot wounds. The evidence, they
say, now clearly points to Keller as a suspect.

“There is enough evidence to file that certification of
probable cause,” said King County Sheriff Steve Strachan.

“[Keller’s] behavior has been unusual, but nothing that
would indicate to people before the murders that he was
something dangerous,” Strachan
told 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ron &
Don Show. “Of course, now in retrospect, all of the
friends and family are shaking their heads and wishing
they would have acted differently.”

According to court documents, Keller was described by
those who knew him as a “survivalist” that spent much of
his free time in the woods.

In addition to his gun collection, police said a coworker
learned that Keller had bought silencers, but had not told
his wife because of how expensive it was to purchase.

Keller was an avid outdoorsman, and authorities have said
they believe he could be hiding on trails that he often
hiked. Documents reveal Kaylene’s boyfriend had learned
that Keller brought extra supplies on hikes with him, in
order to stockpile goods at forts hidden in the woods.

According to police, Kaylene had told her boyfriend that
Keller was preparing for the end of the world.

Authorities have been posting information at trailheads to
make hikers aware that Keller might be in the woods. “We
need to be aware, we need to be cautious. The public needs
to know what’s out there.”

Keller was a gun collector and if he is hiding in the
woods, he may be armed.

Strachen said people shouldn’t be afraid to use trails for
hiking, but if they think they see someone they believe to
be Keller, they shouldn’t approach him and should instead
call police.

In the week before the fire, court documents say Keller
only worked Tuesday and Wednesday the week preceding
the murder of his wife and daughter, and had scheduled
days the other three days off. When asked by a coworker
when he would return from his scheduled time off, Keller
replied that he may “never” come back to work.

Keller also withdrew $6,200 in cash the weekend of the
fire, which was odd, according to family members who
talked
to police, because Keller used debit cards and rarely
carried cash.

A memorial fund and scholarship account has been set up by
the Rocha family. The family is asking that in lieu of
flowers, donations may be made in the Kellers’ names at
any BECU Branch.