The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest in the suspected murders of two people in Winlock.
Robert Eugene Chandler Jr., 35, from the Toledo area, was arrested on one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree burglary on Friday, March 7, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office announced at about 10 p.m. on Friday.
His bail was set at $2 million over the weekend. He had a preliminary hearing on possible charges in Lewis County Superior Court scheduled for 4 p.m. on Monday, March 10.
Jail records indicate Chandler was booked into the Lewis County Jail at approximately 2:28 p.m. on March 5 on an unrelated warrant from an outside agency. He is being held without bail on that matter, according to jail records.
“This case remains active, and due to the nature of the investigation, no further information is being released at this time,” the sheriff’s office stated in a news release Friday night. “Autopsies have been completed and further information regarding the decedents will be released by the Lewis County Coroner’s Office when appropriate.”
On Friday, the Lewis County Coroner’s Office identified one of the two individuals found dead inside the Winlock residence on Feb. 25 as Kimberly R. Torres, 51, of Winlock.
The second decedent has been positively identified as Donald J. Piccolo, 61, of Winlock, the Lewis County Coroner’s office announced Monday morning.
The manner of death for both victims is homicide, the Lewis County Coroner’s Office confirmed.
Law enforcement officials have been investigating the incident as a possible double homicide after the two bodies were found inside a residence in the 400 block of Byham Road in Winlock the night of Feb. 25.
A citizen had requested a welfare check on an individual at the residence shortly after 10 p.m., according to previous Chronicle reporting.
“After further investigation, forced entry was made into the residence and two deceased individuals were found inside,” the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office stated in a news release on Feb. 26. “The Winlock Police Department requested the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office’s assistance with the investigation.”
The bodies were found shortly after midnight, according to previous Chronicle reporting.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with possible information about the incident to email detectives at investigations@lewiscountywa.gov, call the sheriff's office at 360-748-9286 or call Lewis County Communications at 360-740-1105.
