The quiet community of Kitsap County, Washington, was shaken to its core in 2017 when a gruesome quadruple murder rocked the region.
At the center of this horrific tragedy were Danie Kelly Jr. and brothers Robert and Johnny Watson, three men whose greed and desperation would ultimately lead to the senseless slaying of an entire family.
The Careaga family – John, Christale, Hunter, and Jonathon – were senselessly gunned down, their home set ablaze in a desperate attempt to cover up the heinous crimes.
For years, the community waited with bated breath as authorities painstakingly pieced together the evidence, finally bringing the three perpetrators to justice in 2024.
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The Careaga Family
The Careaga family was well-known and respected throughout Kitsap County. John and Christale Careaga owned a thriving Mexican restaurant in the heart of Bremerton, a testament to their strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit.
But beyond their professional success, the Careaga household was a warm, loving environment that served as a hub for their extended family. John was described as a doting father and uncle, always eager to entertain the nine children who relied on him. Christale, or “Crystal” as she was affectionately known, was remembered as a “bright light” – her contagious positivity and personable nature endearing her to all who knew her.
The couple’s two children, 16-year-old Hunter and 16-year-old Jonathon, were equally beloved. Hunter was a talented athlete and budding chef, while Jonathon, known as the “big teddy bear” of the family, shared a deep, nurturing bond with his mother.
Together, the Careaga clan represented the very best of their community – a family bound by unwavering love and support.
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The Descent into Darkness
Unbeknownst to the close-knit Careaga family, a dark underbelly was festering just below the surface of their idyllic lives. John Careaga’s lucrative side-business as a cocaine distributor had drawn the attention of Danie Kelly Jr. and the Watson brothers, who were eager to get a piece of the action. Kelly, a “hang-around” of the notorious Bandidos motorcycle club, had once been a close friend of Careaga’s, but a falling out over money had soured their relationship.
Sensing an opportunity, the trio hatched a sinister plan to eliminate the Careaga family and seize control of the drug operation. According to court records, Robert Watson had been meticulously tracking Careaga’s movements, even traveling to California to intercept him on one of his drug runs. Meanwhile, Kelly’s association with the Bandidos provided a potential cover for the murders, though the group itself was not believed to be directly involved.
On the fateful night of January 27, 2017, the three men struck. Gunshots rang out at the Careaga home, and a neighbor reported seeing John Careaga’s truck speeding away, with Kelly at the wheel and another car in close pursuit.
The bodies of Christale, Hunter, and Jonathon were later discovered inside the family’s burned-out home, while John’s remains were found several days later in his torched pickup truck at a nearby tree farm.
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The Long Road to Justice
For the next seven years, the Kitsap County community grappled with the aftermath of the Careaga family’s tragic demise. Ashlynn Withem, Christale’s daughter and Jonathon’s sister, described the profound sense of anxiety, depression, and fear that permeated the lives of those left behind.
The loss of another young family member, Joseph Careaga, in a 2018 car accident only compounded the heartbreak.
Yet, even as the years passed, the determination of law enforcement never wavered. Detective Lissa Gundrum dedicated five years solely to solving the case, working tirelessly alongside the FBI Seattle office to meticulously piece together the evidence.
Their efforts finally paid off in June 2022, when Kelly and the Watson brothers were arrested and charged with the murders.
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The Trial and Sentencing
The trial that followed was a grueling, emotionally-charged affair, lasting over five months. Prosecutors painted a damning picture of the trio’s motivations, arguing that they were driven by a toxic mix of drugs, money, and personal conflicts.
Cell phone data and financial records were used to corroborate the timeline of events and the suspects’ movements on the night of the murders.
Ultimately, the jury found Kelly, Robert Watson, and Johnny Watson guilty on all counts – four charges of first-degree murder, four charges of first-degree premeditated murder, attempted murder, and first-degree arson.
On May 7, 2024, Superior Court Judge Kevin Hull handed down the maximum sentences possible under state law: four consecutive life terms for each man, with an additional 46 years tacked on for the other convictions.
The impact of the Careaga family’s murders has rippled far beyond the immediate loved ones left to grieve. Kitsap County Sheriff John Gese, visibly emotional during the post-verdict press conference, acknowledged the immense toll the case had taken on his department and the broader community. “The damage here is just too much, the impact is too much,” Judge Hull remarked during the sentencing hearing, reflecting on the heartbreaking testimony from the victims’ family members.
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