SAMMAMISH, Wash. — Police arrested a 20-year-old man accused of the first murder in the history of Sammamish.
Officers arrested Kevin Patterson in a hotel in Abbotsford, British Columbia, nearly 12 hours after they found a body in the Sammamish home where neighbors said he had been living. Abbotsford police said they also arrested an 18-year-old man who was at the hotel with Patterson. Sammamish police believe the 18-year-old was present at the time of the slaying, but do not know if he participated in the killing.
"Richard is best known for his kind and generous heart," said Dave Brown, who has known Bergesen for 30 years. When Brown moved from California to Washington, Bergesen later followed.
"Richard got to know Patterson and his story and truly cared for him like a son," said Brown.
He looked like a very nice kid and Richard took him under his wing to help him, neighbor Ginette Carrier said.
Carrier said she saw Patterson all of the time because Bergesen took him in and acted as a role model.
"I know he was approached by a pastor from his church to help Kevin," Carrier said. "It's sad. We are all shocked."
Deputies said a friend of Patterson's called 911 Wednesday morning, worried about what might have happened at the home. Some neighbors said they heard screams.
More than 30 hours after Bergesen was found dead, detectives were still at the home investigating. They removed boxes of evidence, even mattresses.
While on the run, Patterson was driving a BMW deputies said was missing from the home. Neighbors said the vehicle was Bergesen's. It led authorities to Patterson's arrest in Canada.
"(Abbotsford police) were able to locate the BMW parked at a motel in their city, and they put a surveillance team on the vehicle, and when it moved, they were able to stop the vehicle," said Sgt. D.B. Gates with the King County Sheriff's Office.
KIRO 7 discovered Patterson lists Penticton, British Columbia, a city in the Okanagan Valley, as his hometown. KIRO 7 also asked deputies when he will be extradited back to the U.S. Patterson may have dual citizenship.
"It certainly adds another layer to the extradition process. Canada may assert some different rights on his behalf because he's a Canadian citizen," Gates said.
So far, the two are being held in British Columbia on stolen property charges. Abbotsford police spokesman Ian MacDonald said there was evidence of fraudulent credit card use, and if they are found to have crossed into Canada illegally, they would face those charges as well.
Patterson was convicted of assault in Thurston County in 2012.
KIRO 7 is still working to find out the identity of the 18-year-old man arrested with Patterson.
Attorney Tim Leary says he represented Patterson on a criminal trespass case from back in December 2012 when the teenager broke into the Redmond Library.
Patterson had changed since then, and had benefited from Bergesen’s guidance, said Leary.
"He's grateful for what Richard had done to help him get back on his feet,” said Leary.
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