Man arrested in Thurston County triple murder

LACEY, Wash. — An arrest has been made in the murder of two men and a woman whose bodies were found in a trailer near Lacey last week.

The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said 24-year-old Dugan John Lawton has been booked into the Thurston County Jail on charges of first degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and attempted murder.

The bodies of 36-year-old Gerald M. Berkey of Elma, 28-year-old Jackson L. Edens of Olympia, and 31-year-old Terron R. McGrath of Olympia were found inside a travel trailer in the 500 block of Dutterow Road Southeast on Wednesday, June 22. They had been shot.

A fourth person, who was shot in the stomach, survived. He called 911 saying his friends were dead, he was shot and he wasn't sure where he was. Investigators used the man's cellphone signal to determine his location.

Chief Deputy Dave Pearsall said investigators found half a pound of methamphetamine, heroin, thousands of dollars in cash and about half a dozen firearms in the trailer with the victims.

Officers described the amount of meth found as "commercial."

Investigators are looking for a potential witness who may have provided a ride to someone at about 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 22, in the area of Dutterow and Steilacoom.

Anyone who may know of, or is the motorist in question, is asked to contact the Thurston County Sheriff's Office.

Cox Media Group