Couple found slain in home near Shelton; neighbor 'heard like 6 gunshots'

SHELTON, Wash. — Two people were found dead Tuesday at a home near Shelton, the Mason County Sheriff's Office said, and detectives are investigating it as a double homicide.

Investigators said they have a "person of interest" in the case, but offered no other details.

Tara M. Abernathy, 32, and Kenneth E. Koonrad, 34, were found dead inside their home Tuesday. The sheriff's office said a co-worker of one of the victims asked police to do a welfare check at the couple's duplex on Aloha Lane near Shelton Tuesday morning.



Neighbors said they heard multiple gunshots early Tuesday morning.

"This morning my mom heard like six gunshots and we didn't think anything of it," said neighbor Joseph Parsons. His mother added that she thought it was fireworks.


The sheriff's office says detectives are investigating along with the Washington State Patrol.