Teen charged in WW stabbing takes a plea deal
By Dan Thesman on Tuesday, September 10th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Eros Emiliano Patterson, 18, one of three teenage boys all from Kennewick arrested for their alleged involvement in a 2022 fatal stabbing on Kibler Road in Walla Walla, had pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree murder in Walla Walla County Superior Court. He had been charged with first-degree murder.
Walla Walla County Chief Deputy Prosecutor April King said Patterson’s sentencing was continued by Judge Scott Wolfram to permit time for the Washington State Department of Corrections to submit a pre-sentencing investigation report.
King said Patterson’s case will stay in adult court and that the state will argue a sentence of 15 years.
Patterson, who was 16 at the time of the crime, was to be tried as an adult. He is charged in the death of Miguel Perez Barragan, 24, whose remains were discovered 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. Trials are still pending for the other defendants.
