RSSDetails fuzzy in homicide on I-82
Yakima Herald-Republic
E-mail
Print
Comments
More 'Local'
- The paraeducator dilemma
- How well did you read last week's YH-R?
- Sunnyside jail escapee caught after three years
- Wilson Building has an old look, but a new life
- City spends $16,000 defending Ensey
- Keeping weight off the bigger challenge
- Chinook Pass closed due to heavy snow, avalanche danger
YAKIMA, Wash. -- State evidence technicians are expected to be in Yakima today to examine the car in which a Montana man says his wife was fatally shot by a hitchhiker on Interstate 82.
Former Yakima resident Sheryl Huntley, 40, died about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday after being taken off life support at Yakima Regional Medical and Cardiac Center, authorities said.
She died from a single gunshot to the head nearly 12 hours after her common-law husband reported that both of them had been shot by a man they picked up on Interstate 82 outside of Selah.
Huntley's death -- the 13th homicide in Yakima County this year -- is one of the more unusual cases for 2009. Random homicides are rare in Yakima County, especially those involving motorists.
Stew Graham, chief of detectives for the sheriff's office, said the husband is not a suspect.
"I've got no reason to disbelieve anything he's told us," Graham said Wednesday afternoon.
The husband, 34-year-old Stephen Harwood, was treated at Yakima Regional for a gunshot wound to the hand and then spent at least two hours speaking to detectives at the sheriff's office.
The couple had been headed to Yakima from Thompson Falls, Mont. -- nearly three hours east of Spokane -- to pick up a relative and return with her to Montana, Graham said.
Yakima police learned of the incident about 3:30 a.m. when they stopped a vehicle at South First Street and Walnut Avenue.
The driver said he had picked up a hitchhiker south of the southbound rest area, north of Selah, and was then robbed, according to the sheriff's office.
Although details are unclear, the driver said he tried to stop the car and struggle with the hitchhiker, who fired several shots at the man and his wife.
The hitchhiker got out of the car somewhere between the East Selah and Rest Haven exits.
The driver proceeded to Yakima and drove south on First Street to Union Gap before turning around and flagging down another motorist to help him find a hospital.
Harwood resumed driving north on First Street, and police stopped him after the other motorist called 9-1-1.
He told detectives he was not familiar with the area and did not have a phone.
The sheriff's office said Harwood gave a very detailed description of the hitchhiker. He said the man was Hispanic, probably around 20, about 5 feet 6 inches and skinny. His head was shaved, with a longer bit of hair across the forehead, a scar over his left eye and a "sharp" jaw line. His nose may have been broken in the past. He was wearing a red bandanna, white T-shirt, navy blue Dickies pants and two diamond stud earrings.
The man said he was driving erratically to attract attention and may have been involved in a minor, unreported crash with another vehicle before the traffic stop.
The man was driving a blue 2003 Dodge Neon with four doors and Montana license plates.
Anyone with information about this case may call the sheriff's office at 509-574-2500.
* Mark Morey can be reached at 509-577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.
Carry a cell phone, if you cannot afford one you do not have to activate it keep it charged, it will dial 911 and summons help, do not pick up hitch hikers, call for assistance someone appears to be in need.
Winter of 07 in Tacoma, a woman was robbed at gun point by a woman pretending to be broke down and a fake baby in a blanket when she approached her hidden boyfriend approached as well with a gun. Point is you do not know if you are being setup most of the time until it is to late.
This error in judgment cost a woman's life and him being shot in the hand.
While I promote concealed carry for protection, you do not place yourself in harms way with out knowing everything involved. Get firearms training, and click on your brain, avoid situations that will put you into danger.
Sorry Big Dave, this guy is not telling the whole story. too many holes in that story and I ain't buying.
Like someone said in another post...ever seen a Hispanic male hitchiker? I have been driving along time all over the good ole USA and cannot say I have. Also too much detail for someone struggling for his life and in the dark.
Someone suspect a dope deal gone south...why else would you pick-up anyone at 3:00 in the morning?
A family friend blogged last night that they want some answers and they are'nt buying his story, so they will know ore than anyone what kind of guy he really is. It is either dope or he
capped his wife.
I tend to agree that something else is happening here. Yes people still pick up hitchikers but someone wearing a red bandana, at 2-3am at a reststop? Then he pulls a gun and you try to struggle with him while driving? I hope I'm wrong on my gut feeling but I think there's more to this story than meets the eye. Gives a great description of the perp, but can only say he left the car somewhere between here and there, why can he not give more details on exactly where he left the car? Yes his nerves may have been fried by then, but he's still able to give great detail on the guy, not where he got out of the vehicle.
Report ViolationSurely the newspaper and police can't give out all of the details but from what I gather the story seems tweaky. I wouldn't pick up a youngster, he can walk. Bald ,wearing a red bandana and blue dickies, I don't know about that color code. Then again "who knows?".
Report ViolationAccording to the newspaper's description of the events, this guy drove past the Sheriff's office on South 1st at least twice.
Report ViolationDetails are very fuzzy...and the colors blue and red do NOT go together.
Report ViolationKey statement for me...
"The driver proceeded to Yakima and drove south on First Street to Union Gap before turning around and flagging down another motorist to help him find a hospital."...
How many phone booths did this guy pass as he went from North 1st street to Union Gap? How many motels with all night clerks with access to a phone could he have pulled into? Mels Diner is open 24 hrs a day and he passed right past there....come on...this story has more holes in it than my husbands fishing net!!!!!
Sounds like a drug deal gone bad. I don't know why you would drive 7-8hrs to "pick someone up" and just go back. There has to be another purpose. The shooter might have known the couple and known they had cash or drugs on them.
Per speculation, I know. Also Black Dicky pants would look blue after being washed a few times.
Elroy and others that think there is something fishy about this whole story, well I felt about the same way at first and still acknowledge that we do not know everything.
The scenario I first thought of was that they were just about to arrive in Yakima and she let him know that it was over and she was not returning to Montana with him, and out of rage the shooting occurred to support his story he self inflicted a gun shot wound and made up the story to cover what he has done.
But until evidence is presented to get a better grasp what occurred, then I will stay with my first position and preach avoidance.
SHERYL DIDN'T DESERVE TO DIE THIS WAY...ONLY STEVEN AND SHERYL KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. WHERE'S STEVEN???? SHERYL WAS (STILL IS) MY BF FOR OVER 10 YRS...99% SAY STEVEN HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT. WAS GIVING STEVEN "BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT" HOPING AND PRAYING HE COULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING HER FROM US PLUS HER 2 BOYS. WHAT'S EATING @ ME "WHY URGENCY TO GO HOME?" IF MY SPOUSE AND I WENT THROUGH THIS TERRIBLE NIGHTMARE TOGETHER...COLD DAY IN HELL I'D LEAVE THAT TOWN W/OUT SOME KIND OF JUSTICE!!! IF I KNEW I WAS INNOCENT I'D BE SLEEPING ON DETECTIVES DOOR-STEP. NOT LIKE STEVEN HAD TO RETURN TO WORK..DOESN'T HAVE A JOB!!!! SO MANY LOOP HOLES..NOTHING MAKES SENSE. WAITTING FOR REPORTS TO TELL TRUTH SO WE CAN LET SHERYL REST IN PEACE AND FOR US TO GRIEVE...GUARANTEE SHERYL IS SCREAMING THE TRUTH TO US....
Report ViolationRest assurred KOBYBOY1,,,,,
EVERY person in this little town of 1300 we have spoken to about this, has that EXACT same thing to say,,,,,,,,,,
"Why are you HERE Stephen?!",,,,
"Wheres the "composite drawing of the suspect Stephen?!"
"Why arent you showing SOME sort of "composite drawing" around the area stephen?!"
"Why arent you "camped" in Terrace Hieghts which is suspiciously close to where you were FINALLY pulled over?!,,,,Stephen,,,,
" WHY DID YOU PULL INTO A "REST AREA" as the sherrif said "FOR WHATEVER REASON",,,,,"WHEN YOU ARE JUST "miles" FROM YOUR FINAL DESTINATION?!"
"what made you think a teenage thug was in need of help at that time of the morning, such a SHORT DISTANCE FROM TOWN?!,,,Stephen",,,,,,,,
i mean i know when my wife has to pee on the road, its a here and now kinda thing,,,,,,,,
but then if THAT was the case,,,,, why did he not tell that to the sherrif,,, why is it,,,
"they pulled into a rest area,, for whatever reason"?
as well as,,,,,
WE are completely BLOWN AWAY, that
Sheryl's 14 year old son,,, is riding around with Stephen, and not with a BLOOD family member. What kind of SCREWD up "child welfare" person thought THAT was a good idea,,,,,,,
EVEN THOUGH we werent close friends with Sheryl,,, no one deserves to go out with a mystery, ESPECIALLY when one has the answers and refuses to share them. That then turns it from a mystery, to a deception,,,,,,,,,,even WORSE !
Stephen has put the word around town about some "$10,000" reward that has been gathered by friends and family. Can anyone confirm or deny that statment as i'd like to bring light to it.
I've never lived in your area, but i have COMPLETE confidence in your law enforcment NOT SETTLING with Stephens story. THEY KNOW what this looks like, and i say again, i have COMPLETE faith in the law persuing the truth.
They have his local record from here and KNOW of his ,,um,,, recent problems and where his dedications lie.
there is a LARGE portion of this lil'town in the woods asking these same questions. When we asked our daughter why he returned here so quick, she tells us "it was because Sheryl's family was harrasing him." well DUH !!! who wouldnt push for answers. He's gotten pretty much the same here,,,,,,
From us, to those who did the harrasing,,, KUDO'S !
From us to those suffering on account of Stephen, we offer our understanding.
From us to those suffering from the loss of Sheryl, our prayers are offered DAILY for your comfort and support.
we agree, no "rest in peace" until the truth is told.
"God bless you Sheryl"
short update for those closly involved, my wife did infact have a meeting with Mr. Harwood. Out of respect for the investigation, we are not posting the answers she was givin, as they are convoluted and contrary in nature.
KOBYBOY1,,,,,,
i am giving here, permission for Mr.Mark Morey to give you and only you, my email address, if you are so interested in discussing this.
we believe it best to digress our expression on this, in this forum.
but before we go, we offer our gratitude for the "Truth Sayers" in this forum, and in your area.
"Love...does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth."
1 corinthians 13:6
Posting Guidelines - Updated Aug. 21 2009
Readers are encouraged to use these forums to discuss issues affecting the
Yakima Valley. Debate the ideas presented in stories and other comments, but
refrain from personal attacks and offensive remarks aimed at others; e.g.,
you may call an idea idiotic, but don't say the person is an idiot. The
Herald-Republic reserves the right to remove any comment for any reason.
Examples include material that is obscene, encourages illegal activity or
stereotypes based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and
other factors. Continued violation of these guidelines can lead to
suspension or revocation of your ability to post comments. If you believe a
comment is inappropriate, you can bring it to our attention by clicking the
"report violation" link by each comment. Guidelines revised Aug. 21, 2009.
Registered User?
