FIFE, Wash. — Pierce County sheriff's investigators say when Daniel Miller and Charissa Dobbins were found shot to death inside a Fife Heights home Thursday night, it appeared to be a murder-suicide at first. Until detectives began combing the scene for more evidence.
“When we got through the scene there was no weapon, so that tells us it was a homicide,” said Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Detective Ed Troyer.
Friends of the couple led detectives to Brett Dollens as a suspect in the murders. Investigators said Dollens confessed to killing the 23-year-old Miller and 22-year-old Dobbins, who had recently become a mother, because of a disagreement over drugs and money.
“A lot of drug paraphernalia in the residence,” said Troyer."Turns out that they might have been involved in the selling of drugs as well, and had a beef with somebody.”
KIRO 7 found a picture of a pipe for smoking drugs on Dollens' Facebook page, along with cryptic messages about his death posted in late September.
The first messaged posted Sept. 30 read: “No more cries for help. I repent all sins in hope wishing forward eternity. Love to all who cared, gone to all who didn't.”
That was followed by a second post on the same day: “Final post. For where ever the wind takes my spirit I shall be watching over all who cared and loved me. I've lived knowing a lot of great people. Now I leave knowing the only bad one was me myself. To that I say please forgive as I give myself to you.” It was signed, “A sad guy to anyone who listened.”
Dollens was booked into the Pierce County jail on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder. He is expected in court on Monday.