Crime & Courts

Three convicted in murder cases with Mason County ties

After a five-month trial, a jury in Kitsap County on Friday convicted three men of murdering a Seabeck family, including the father whose body was discovered on a tree farm on Northeast Dewatto-Holly Road, south of Forest Springs Road, in Mason County.

The family, John Careaga, 43, his wife Christale Careaga, 37, and her 16-year-old son Johnathon Higgins and 16-year-old stepson Hunter Schapp were all killed in January 2017. The mother and sons were found inside their burned-out home near Tahuya Lake on Jan. 27, 2017 and John Careaga was discovered a few days later in a burned car on the Mason County property.

Daniel Kelly, Jr. and brothers Johnny Watson and Robert Watson III were charged with the murders.

Prosecutors claimed drugs were the motive, alleging John Carteaga stopped dealing cocaine and the killers were upset about the sudden lack of supply.

The Kitsap Superior Court jury found Kelly Jr. and the Watson brothers guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder and first-degree arson.

Sentencing is scheduled for May.