OKANOGAN, Wash. – Okanogan County has seen a rise in violent crimes, with four incidents reported in the last month.
The Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office described these crimes as highly unusual and classified them as violent.
On April 17, the first incident in this string of violence occurred when a man was shot in Johnson Creek, Omak. He was transported to the hospital, and police arrested Sarah Hall for first-degree assault shortly after. His current condition is unknown.
On April 30, a woman was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest in a reclining chair near Brewster. The victim’s husband, William Keran, was arrested and taken to jail on charges of first-degree murder.
On May 14, a man was found with three gunshot wounds in a backyard near Tonasket. He was taken to the hospital via helicopter, and his condition is unknown. His wife, Genovenva Vargas-Paniagua, was arrested and taken to jail on charges of attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault.
On May 18, in Twisp, law enforcement found a woman wrapped in a tarp off HWY 20. She was identified as Sharon Gray, 49, and Jason Rumohr, 50, was arrested for first-degree murder and other charges related to Gray’s death.
All of the cases are still being investigated by the detective division of the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office.
