³ÉÈËXÕ¾

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

More questions than answers in Seattle teen’s murder

Jun 4, 2013, 7:52 AM | Updated: 3:01 pm

A reward is in place for a tip that solves the seemingly random shooting death of a 15-year-old Seattle girl walking along a road in Lake Stevens Saturday night.

Liz Allen, with CrimesStoppers of Puget Sound, says friends of Molly Conley hope to increase the reward fund, which tops out at $1,000.

If you have any information, you can call CrimeStoppers at 1-900-222-tips, the Lake Stevens Tip Line, 425-377-3214, or the Snohomish County Major Crimes Unit, 425-388-3845.

Conley’s family is still left with more questions than answers as investigators try to piece together what happened the night she was killed.

Investigators are looking for any surveillance footage that might have been taken in the area of the shooting and hoping more witnesses come forward, but so far Shari Ireton with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office tells ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio’s Dori Monson there’s still a lot they don’t know about that night, like whether or not this was a random shooting.

“We’re trying to piece together all the evidence that has being provided through witness reports and evidence that’s being gathered. It’s hard to say whether it was random or not,” says Ireton.

Molly was a straight-A student and star athlete, who always had a smile on her face and an open heart. She was the last person anyone would expect to be the target of gang violence, but Ireton says that is a possibility they’re looking into.

“Snohomish County has had gang activity. We do have a gang task force, so it’s definitely something that we’ve kept our eye on,” says Ireton. “But at this point, there’s nothing that detectives have shared with me to say that that’s where this is going.”

The area in Lake Stevens where Molly was killed is not usually a hot-bed of criminal activity, but Ireton says violence is spreading throughout the Northwest.

“Our population is growing, so we are tending to see more serious crime taking place, even in places that we thought were quiet, suburbia communities,” says Ireton.

Investigators are also looking into whether Molly’s murder might be related to the reports that came into 911 of two other shots fired in the area Saturday night.

“Just to keep things in perspective, we get many shots fired calls late on weekend nights. Whether they’re related or not, that’s what detectives are looking into,” Ireton says.

In the meantime, Molly’s family has set up a to remember their daughter with pictures and prayers. In just the first day it was active, more than 3,500 people had already signed on to show their support and their sorrow for the loss of such a special girl.

MyNorthwest News

This military vehicle crashed from the eastbound lanes of Interstate 90 onto a side road in the Fac...

Tom Brock

Military vehicle crashes from I-90 onto roadway in Bellevue’s Eastgate neighborhood

The Washington State Patrol is investigating the cause of a bad accident that sent a military vehicle flying off an elevated part of I-90 in Bellevue.

12 hours ago

A SWAT team response in Renton Friday evening ended with an exchange of gunfire between suspects an...

Tom Brock

Three injured in officer-involved shooting in Renton

An investigation is underway into an officer-involved shooting in Renton.

12 hours ago

pet owners...

Frank Sumrall

56% of pet owners would cut their own lives short to extend their pet’s, survey finds

Dogs (and other pets) are truly man's best friend after a recent survey revealed more than half of respondents would trade years of their own life to extend their pet’s lifespan.

21 hours ago

a man working on a plane...

³ÉÈËXÕ¾ 7 News Staff

‘NO STRIKE’: SEA Airport aircraft fuelers reach agreement with employer

150 aircraft fuelers at SEA Airport were poised to walk off the job after teamsters voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize a strike. But by Friday, the Teamsters and employer Swissport had reached an agreement and averted any strike.

1 day ago

watch weekend trump tariffs movies...

Frank Sumrall

What to watch this weekend, and how Trump’s movie tariffs shook Hollywood to its core

Donald Trump’s tariffs have reached Hollywood when the president announced there would be a 100% tariff on all movies produced outside the U.S. earlier this week.

1 day ago

krampus america convention...

MyNorthwest Staff

‘An outlet for chaos’: Bremerton hosts first-ever Krampus America Convention

Discover the allure of Krampus at the inaugural Krampus America Convention this weekend in the Pacific Northwest.

1 day ago

More questions than answers in Seattle teen’s murder