PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office withstood a challenge from the attorney of accused killer Kallie Ann Letellier as she was charged Wednesday with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder with firearms enhancements.
Port Angeles lawyer Larry Freedman, representing Letellier, said the 34-year-old Port Angeles woman will plead not guilty at her arraignment at 9 a.m. Feb. 8.
Letellier is one of three people accused in the homicides of Darrell C. Iverson, 57; his son, Jordan D. Iverson, 27, and Jordan Iverson’s girlfriend, Tiffany A. May, 26, all of Port Angeles.
Their bullet-riddled bodies were found in a driveway and a shed at Darrell Iverson’s 52 Bear Meadow Road property on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Authorities say they were slain Dec. 26.
At Letellier’s charging hearing Wednesday, Superior Court Judge Brian Coughenour decided the premeditation required for the first-degree murder counts against Letellier was satisfied in her probable cause statement.
According to the statement, Letellier referred to a “plan” to kill the Iversons and May that was discussed by Letellier, Dennis Marvin Bauer, 50, and Ryan Warren Ward, 37, all of Port Angeles.
Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict said Wednesday there are no other suspects in the case.
Ward was in the Snohomish County jail Wednesday on $3 million bail on a Clallam County arrest warrant for three charges of aggravated first-degree murder with firearms enhancements and a charge of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm.
Ward, Bauer’s nephew, was released Wednesday from a Snohomish County hold on a warrant for second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, a Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokeswoman said.
The release allows Clallam County authorities to pick up Ward on the arrest warrant while keeping intact the Snohomish County charge.
“My guess is that we will pick him up either [Wednesday night] or [today],” Benedict said
“In any event, he’s on his way back.
“He’ll get a first appearance and be offered counsel and then be charged.”
Bauer also is charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder with firearms enhancements.
He is in the Clallam County Jail on $3.5 million bail and also will be arraigned at 9 a.m. Feb. 8.
Freedman argued Wednesday that the element of premeditation was not present in Letellier’s probable cause statement, in which she tells Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Eric Munger that she killed May.
“She was afraid if she didn’t do it,” Freedman said.
“That did not constitute premeditation,” he said, suggesting second-degree murder charges might be more appropriate.
Michele Devlin, chief criminal deputy prosecuting attorney, read from the probable cause statement.
Letellier “eventually admitted” she shot May, according to the statement.
“Dennis came in the kitchen [at the Iversons’ house] and told her something to the effect of, Ryan [Ward] no longer wanted to go along with their plan,” Devlin said, emphasizing the word plan, “and she had to take over for him,” according to the statement.
“Kallie was scared and she hoped it would not happen.
“Dennis and Ryan have said terrible things to her in the past, and this increased her fear,” the statement said.
“Due to her fear of what would happen if she did not follow Dennis’ instructions, Kallie pursued Tiffany and shot her multiple times as she ran from the house,” the statement said.
“A mere moment in time is premeditation, there was a plan, and she followed through with it,” Devlin said.
Freedman said there were contradictory statements in the probable cause statement and left it to Coughenour to make a decision.
“The probable cause statement gives sufficient indication that planning was involved.” Coughenour said.
“Planning is an element of premeditation.”
The murders appeared to grow out of a disagreement between Bauer and Darrell Iverson over the treatment of Letellier, who lived at Iverson’s residence until she began living with Bauer in December, according to the probable cause statement.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.