Two Walla Walla murder suspects get trial dates
By Dan Thesman on Thursday, January 4th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Trial dates have been set for two of the three teenage boys, all from Kennewick, arrested for their alleged involvement in a 2022 fatal stabbing in Walla Walla.
Eros Emiliano Patterson, 17, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday afternoon in Walla Walla County Superior Court. He was arrested with the other suspects for the death of Miguel Perez Barragan, 24, whose remains were discovered off Kibler Road on July 5, 2022. Court documents state Barragan was murdered on or around June 29, 2022.
After Barragan’s body was found, police received a tip that one of the suspect’s brothers watched a video of the stabbing. Further investigation led detectives to learn the three teens allegedly shared Instagram messages admitting to the murder and said they needed to flee to the Tri-Cities to avoid arrest.
Patterson’s trial is set to begin March 3, a day before another defendant, Kenny Stephen Sanchez-Garcia’s trial is to begin. Both Patterson and Sanchez-Garcia are being tried as adults and are charged with first-degree murder.
The third defendant, a 15-year-old boy, remains in the Walla Walla County Juvenile Justice Center and waived his right to a speedy trial. Charged with first-degree murder and theft of a motor vehicle, he has a fact-finding hearing set for June 4.
