Second suspect arrested in last weekend’s Whatcom murder, but third man still sought
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office located and arrested the second of three men investigators suspect were involved in a planned robbery that ended in the death of a woman in Acme over the weekend.
Tyler James O’Keefe, 23, was booked into Whatcom County Jail at 2:38 a.m. Thursday, April 9, on suspicion of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery.
O’Keefe was identified as a third suspect by sheriff’s office investigators on Wednesday.
The Bellingham Herald has asked the sheriff’s office for details about O’Keefe’s arrest.
The sheriff’s office is still trying to find 25-year-old Payton Thomas Mulryan, a white man who is 6 feet tall, 160 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. Mulryan normally hangs out in Lynden, Everson and Bellingham, according to a previous sheriff’s office press release.
Mulryan and O’Keefe are suspected of being involved in the homicide of 21-year-old Darian D. Sather of Sedro Woolley.
Brent Scott Gerber, 47, of Maple Falls was arrested Monday, April 6, by the sheriff’s office on suspicion of first-degree murder. Gerber is suspected of driving the vehicle that hit and killed Sather Saturday morning, April 4, at the South Fork Park in Acme, according to Whatcom County Superior Court records.
Gerber was formally charged Tuesday, April 7, with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery, according to Whatcom County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Richey.
Gerber is incarcerated at the Whatcom County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. His arraignment is scheduled for April 17.
The crime
Sather and two friends drove to the park early Saturday morning, April 4, to buy illegal drugs. When the three arrived, they parked behind a white truck with three men inside and Sather got out with $250 to purchase drugs, according to court records.
The friends told sheriff’s office investigators that after Sather stuck her arm into the passenger side to exchange the money for drugs, the truck took off with Sather hanging onto the side, court records state.
The friends said it appeared as if the men inside had pulled Sather into the truck and were holding onto her. One of the friends said he saw the passenger door open and Sather fall to the ground before the truck drove away, the court records state.
The friends determined Sather had been run over and was dead and left the scene “because they were scared,” according to court records.
The sheriff’s office determined Gerber’s truck matched the description of the vehicle that allegedly hit and killed Sather and that he told friends he was in the Acme area “when something bad happened to a girl,” the court records state.
During an interview with investigators, Gerber said he met up with Mulryan at a friend’s house. Gerber said Mulryan asked him for a ride to the park in Acme so Mulryan could meet with a girl who “had apparently done something to him in the past,” court records state.
Gerber agreed to give Mulryan a ride, knowing Mulryan intended to rob Sather of $250 after setting up a fake drug deal, according to court records. Gerber said he, Mulryan and O’Keefe, who was seated in the back, drove to the park just before dawn Saturday. Gerber said he didn’t know Sather or her friends, the records show.
Gerber said after Sather gave Mulryan money, Mulryan yelled at him to drive away. Gerber said he accelerated to 30 mph and started swerving, but Sather was holding onto the truck. Gerber said Mulryan and O’Keefe hit Sather in the face and body, and O’Keefe attempted to use a Taser on her, court records state. Gerber told investigators he remembered the passenger door opening and Sather falling to the ground.
Mulryan gave Gerber $50 cash “for his efforts,” which was taken from the money they allegedly stole from Sather, court records state.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of Mulryan or about what happened at the park between 6 p.m. Friday, April 3 and 8 a.m. Saturday to call 911 or the tip line at 360-778-6663.
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 7:40 AM.
