TACOMA, WA – Today the Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Jared P.T. Standley with two counts of aggravated murder in the first degree. Investigators say Standley, 21, bludgeoned his mother with a bat and shot his father.
“This is the first double parricide in Pierce County I can recall,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.
On March 14, 2018, officers were called to a home on 162nd St. E. in Buckley for a welfare check. When officers arrived they observed a bullet hole through the stained glass on the front door. Inside the front door, officers found Steven Standley, dead with a gunshot wound to the head. As officer entered the home further they observed a body wrapped in a tarp, secured with duct tape. The body was later identified as the defendant’s mother, Theresa Standley. She was beaten to death.
Sean Standley, who called for the welfare check, reported his brother, Jared Standley, had been kicked out of the home about a week earlier. Sean received a phone call from his father, Steven, earlier in the day. Steven told him Jared had returned to the home unexpectedly. Steven was concerned and told Sean to call 911 if he did not hear back from Steven in 15 minutes. Sean never heard back from Steven so he called 911.
Officers were able to locate Jared Standley’s rental car at the Comfort Inn in Tumwater. Jared Standley attempted to drive away but he was shot in the shoulder and taken into custody. Jared Standley told detectives he went to the house to murder his parents because he “hates them that much.” He described killing his mother, Theresa Standley, first. He said he “bludgeoned her with a bat,” striking her in the head several times.
Jared Standley said he attempted to clean up the scene while he waited for his father.
His father arrived home later. He said he was trying to get his father into the house so he could shoot him quietly or stab him with a knife. His father ran into the house and attempted to push the door closed to prevent Jared Standley from entering. Jared Standley shot his father in the head, through the glass on the door.
He told detectives, “I don’t feel like a gunshot to the head is really that upsetting… But I, I was fairly apologetic about having to bludgeon Terry twice.”
Standley was ordered held without bail.
Charges are only allegations and a person is presumed innocent unless he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
For more information, please contact James Lynch at (253) 798-6265, [email protected].