EVERETT — A man accused of stabbing his parents and setting their house on fire last week had been hospitalized two days earlier after he reportedly took drugs, shaved his body hair and drenched himself with gasoline, according to court papers.
Zachary R. Konicke, 29, is being held for investigation of murder, assault and arson after admitting that he repeatedly stabbed his parents Thursday and lit their Machias-area home on fire.
He was ordered jailed on $1 million bail Tuesday during a brief hearing in Everett District Court.
Konicke’s mother, 58, is presumed dead. A woman’s body was found in the burned-out house and the victim had injuries consistent with having suffered a knife attack, according to a probable cause statement prepared by David Bilyeu, a major crimes detective with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.
At about 8 p.m. Thursday, Vicki Konicke called 911 to report that her son had taken her car without permission. Less than three hours later, the defendant’s father, Mike Konicke, called 911 to report that his son was “terrorizing” him with a knife. A few minutes later, he called 911 again to report that his son had set the house on fire.
Deputies arrived to find Zachary Konicke on the ground outside the burning home. He had a broken heel.
His father, also 58, was outside. He had stab wounds, cuts and burns.
He told deputies that his son attacked him and his wife after returning home with the stolen car and that he’d come at them with knives, a bar stool, a mirror and his fists and feet.
Konicke’s father “stated he believed Zachary was ‘high on drugs’ and acting out as a result,” Bilyeu wrote. The father was unaware of any mental health issues related to his son.
Konicke’s brother, Alexander, told detectives that they had been sharing a Redmond apartment and that Zachary was a regular user of hallucinogenic drugs, including mushrooms and ecstacy. He reported that his brother on Jan. 12 had voluntarily been admitted to a King County hospital. He’d reportedly shaved his body hair and doused himself with gasoline, Bilyeu wrote.
The brother said Konicke “appeared calm but strange” and was making statements about “religion, spirits, the devil and ‘them’ watching, talking and chasing him,” Bilyeu wrote.
Konicke’s parents arranged for him to come home with them after he was released from last week’s brief hospital stay.
When questioned by detectives, Konicke claimed his father had attacked him with knives after he returned home with his mother’s car. “Zachary had no explanation for the lack of physical injuries consistent with being attacked,” Bilyeu wrote.
The suspect allegedly admitted stabbing his mother in the head, chest and leg, and insisted that she had attacked him, too, according to court papers.
“He advised his parents were ‘extremely strong’ and ‘cool as cucumbers,’ ” and seemed “possessed,” the detective wrote.
Konicke told detectives that he injured his ankle jumping from a second-story window. He reported doing so after his father had sprayed him with a fire extinguisher.
His father told detectives that after his son lit the home afire, he tried to put out the flames with an extinguisher.
Konicke appeared in court Tuesday in a wheelchair. White casts covered his feet. He signed a court order prohibiting him from having contact or trying to communicate with his father.
Amid the tragedy, there was a bright moment Tuesday.
One of the family’s dogs was returned after several days of uncertainty over what had become of her.
Friends and neighbors spent hours over the holiday weekend searching for Reigny, a five-month-old golden retriever who disappeared the night of the fire. Vicki Konicke was well known for breeding golden retrievers.
Posters were made and messages spread through social media in efforts to find Reigny. Friends of the family even posted a $1,500 reward.
It turned out other friends had taken Reigny in.
Vicki Konicke’s love for dogs was deep, family friends said.
Whenever there was a new litter, neighbors would gather to share in her excitement.
Danai Ortiz, who grew up on the same street as the Konickes and was close in age to their sons, spearheaded efforts to find Reigny.
Everyone knew how much Reigny meant to the Konickes, she said.
Ortiz has fond memories of the family. She said that it is difficult for people who lived in the neighborhood to comprehend what happened.
The parents would prepare welcome baskets for new neighbors and were well respected in the community, she said.
“They were the neighbors you wish you had,” Ortiz said.
A “Find Reigny” Facebook page was created during the search. It can be found at facebook.com/findreginy.
Scott North: 425-339-3431; north@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @snorthnews.
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