Zachary Crave killed his grandmother and another woman; had previously stabbed his grandmother's cat to death

Although this news story is mostly discussing the murder of two women, I think it's interesting to note the previous animal cruelty charge. Authorities - including the DA's office - often think, "Oh, it's JUST A CAT." and give someone like this a slap on the wrist. But it's not JUST A CAT. It has been shown over and over that someone who tortures, abuses and kills animals will do it to people.

WASHINGTON -- Zachary Damien Craven, who had previously threatened to slit his grandmother's throat, shot her to death July 7 in Skyway and just hours later, killed a woman in Renton who was house-sitting for his former girlfriend's family, charge King County prosecutors.

Craven, 24, was charged July 10 with two counts of first-degree murder. He's being held in the King County Jail in Seattle on $5 million bail, which was originally set at $2.1 million.

Both of the victims were killed by a single gunshot to the head, according to the King County Medical Examiners Office.

Craven was also charged with second-degree assault; prosecutors charge that Craven hit his grandfather in the head July 1 in Kent with a small revolver after he refused to give him his gun.
Craven's last known address is his grandfather's residence in Kent.

Craven's arraignment is 8:30 a.m. July 23 in courtroom 1201 of the King County Courthouse in downtown Seattle.

Craven has a history of violence toward his family, girlfriend and animals, prosecutors write in charging documents.

He was convicted of second-degree animal cruelty after he stabbed his grandmother's cat to death. He failed to comply with court orders after his conviction for threatening to kill his grandmother, assaulting her and taking her debit card.

On June 26 – two days after his 24th birthday – he was convicted again of threatening to kill his grandmother and  her dog. Instead of sentencing him to prison, the judge agreed with his defense attorneys to send him to a drug-rehabilitation center. However, he failed to report to the center on July 1, the day he's accused of assaulting his grandfather.

Despite a no-contact order, Craven on July 5 showed up at his grandmother's home on Parkview Avenue South on West Hill to collect some personal property and was allowed to stay for a time. He had been kicked out of his grandfather's house after the assault.

Craven's grandmother, 66-year-old Angelika Anna Hayden, reported the visit to the Sheriff's Office on July 6.

Craven's grandfather, Robert W. Luxton, concerned he couldn't reach Hayden by phone on July 7, drove to her house in Skyway. He found her dead in the living room at about 7:50 p.m. and called 911.

Investigators found a single, .22-caliber shell casing.

During the investigation, a neighbor reported seeing a man leave Hayden's house at about 6 p.m. July 6 and again at 1 p.m. July 7 with garbage bags filled with something. He photographed the truck's license plate. Luxton had last spoken to Hayden at about 11:30 a.m. July 7.

Deputies tracked down the pickup truck and learned Craven and an acquaintance had been to Hayden's house. They also learned Craven had been staying with a friend for about a week. The friend kicked him out after he brought a small German, World War II-type pistol to the apartment, according to prosecutors.

At about 10 p.m. on July 7 Rodney and Margaret Cunningham and daughter Theresa arrived earlier than planned at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport from a family vacation. They hadn't been able to reach house-sitter Meagan Smith about the change in plans. Smith is Theresa's friend who had agreed to housesit and then pick them up at the airport.

Instead, a family member gave the Cunninghams a ride to their Rolling Hills home. The house was locked and they didn't have a key. They found the back door open; Smith was lying dead on kitchen floor with blood near her head, according to charging documents.

The Cunninghams called 911 at 11:23 p.m. A single .22-caliber shell casing was found on the kitchen floor.

Smith last sent a text message at 12:11 p.m.; she received text messages after 2 p.m. but didn't respond, according to prosecutors.

Theresa Cunningham told the 911 dispatcher that she had broken up with her boyfriend, who had recently stolen guns from his grandfather. She identified him as Zachary Craven. She also thought he was the one who killed Smith.

A Renton Police officer dispatched to the scene but then reassigned to other calls spotted a man walking westbound on South Puget Drive who for some reason "piqued my interest," he wrote in his report. He made a U-turn but didn't have enough suspect information, so drove on.

In an interview Theresa Cunningham told investigators Craven sent her texts, threatening to kill her and her family. As they talked, Cunningham received a phone call from an "unknown caller." She put the call on speaker. Craven was asking her to pick him up at Walgreen's on Rainier Avenue in downtown Renton. He needed her help – and come alone.

By now Renton officers had seen Craven's photo, including the officer who had spotted the man walking along South Puget Drive. He saw Craven at Walgreens and realized he was the same man.

Craven ignored officers' commands to stop, according to charging documents. He was tased and taken into custody. He refused to answer questions.

Inside a bag he was carrying were a happy birthday card handmade by Theresa Cunningham and her breakup note dated June 11.

Charging documents describe threats Craven made against Cunningham, including once when he pointed a gun at her head.

Cunningham last saw Craven at his 24th birthday, which she told investigators she felt save to attend because others were there.

Craven later demanded $1,000 he claimed she owed him. It was spare change they had saved together in a piggy bank. She agreed to split the savings with him when she got back.

The piggy bank was found on the kitchen counter next to Meagan Smith's body.

(Renton Reporter - Jul 14, 2015)