(Colville, WA) A 73-year-old man, Charles Tatom, a resident of Colville, was arrested early Thursday in connection with a 1997 double homicide in Stevens County, Washington.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Charles Tatom has been charged with the murders of Marlene Emerson and Cassandra (Cassie) Emerson, who were killed in Stevens County on or about June 27th, 1997. Marlene Emerson was murdered in the trailer she shared with her twelve-year-old daughter Cassie. Afterwards the trailer was set on fire. Cassie was abducted from the residence and murdered. Her body was found on July 27th, 1997.
The Stevens County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the United States Marshals Service’s Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, the U.S. Border Patrol, Washington State Department of Corrections, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, CBP Air and Marine Operations, the Chewelah Police Department, and Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife apprehended Tatom at his residence without incident.
Investigators have worked tirelessly over the past 27 years to bring justice to the victims and closure to the community. Although extensive investigative efforts were made at the time of the homicides, including evidence collection and witness interviews, the case went unsolved for decades.
New forensic evidence testing led to Tatom’s identification as involved in the long-unsolved murders. Authorities have disclosed that Tatom is believed to have been an associate of the Iron Horsemen Motorcycle Club, an outlaw motorcycle gang with ties to the Hells Angels. Additional details regarding his alleged involvement or a possible motive have not yet been released. Members and associates of the Iron Horsemen Motorcycle Club were a part of a major methamphetamine ring in the late 90s ravaging Eastern Washington. Eventually, the club was dismantled by members of state, local, and federal law enforcement.
“The collaboration between the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service was critical in safely apprehending this suspect,” said U.S. Marshal Craig Thayer. “This case exemplifies the importance of cooperation across agencies in bringing resolution to even the most long-term complex investigations.”
“This arrest is a testament to the determination and teamwork of everyone involved,” said Stevens County Sheriff Brad Manke. “For 27 years, we have never given up on seeking justice for the victims and their families. Today’s outcome proves that we remain committed to solving these cases no matter how much time passes.”
The decades-long investigation was aggressively worked by investigators from the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, ATF, and the Washington State Patrol. The investigation remains ongoing.
The Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is a U.S. Marshals-led partnership comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement officers from Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. The task force’s primary mission is to locate, arrest and return to the justice system the most violent and egregious federal and state fugitives.
