An Olympia man has been found guilty for the March 2020 murders of Charlene Van Auken and her 4-year-old daughter Zoey Peetz, according to the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
Nick Denham was found guilty Wednesday, according to a news release.
Auken and Peetz were found murdered in the 5700 block of Puget Beach Road Northeast on March 10, 2020.
“This senseless act forever impacted the family and friends of these victims,our community and our first responders,” the sheriff’s office wrote in the news release.
Denham was arrested March 12, 2020.
After a trial that lasted nearly two months, he was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and 10 additional felony charges.
“We are grateful for the efforts of Thurston County Prosecutor John Tunheim and his staff and the selfless service of the men and women of this jury,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “We continue to mourn the senseless loss of life and will stand with family, friends and this community in forever honoring the lives of Charlene and Zoey.”
Read additional background on the murders here: https://komonews.com/news/local/suspect-identified-in-murder-of-mother-5-year-old-girl-in-woods-near-olympia
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This story will be updated.
