Valley residents arrested on murder charges in Washington

WASILLA — Twenty-three year old Katherine Joanne Chace of Wasilla was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and her 25-year old partner, Paul Dwayne Rankin of Willow on suspicion felony criminal conspiracy relating to the death of a 64-year old Washington resident.

According to Pacific County Sheriff Department in Washington, Paula J. Rice was found dead in her home near Ocean Park, Washington — about halfway between Portland and Seattle — as result of a single 9mm gunshot wound to the head.

At this point in the investigation, officials believe Chace shot her grandmother while her biological father, 41-year old Michael C. Cooper, slept in another part of the home. He was uninjured. Police report Cooper is not believed to be involved in the incident and did not learn of his mother's death until police arrived.

Pacific County Sheriff (PCS) Scott Johnson stated Chace called 911 and told police that a man had kidnapped her and her three children at knifepoint from Rice’s home, and taken the four to a nearby state park. Initially, police and emergency responders believed Chace was a victim, and officers began searching the area for the alleged kidnapper. Officials said inconsistencies in her story made them skeptical. PSC and other police went to Rice’s home to investigate, found Rice's body and informed Cooper of his mother’s death.

Investigators conducted extensive interviews of Chace, her children, and others, on Saturday afternoon and evening, and became increasingly suspicious that she was actually a suspect — and that there might be a second person involved. Chace told investigators that she and her children had come to stay with Rice and Cooper, because she wanted to get to know Cooper better. Further investigation revealed that the grandmother had a large trust fund and that she, and her father, may have been at odds over Chace's relationship with Rankin.

Rankin is believed to be the father of the children, ages two, three and four. Rankin was asked to be interviewed, police said, leading investigators to be believe he was involved.

Both Chace and Rankin are jailed. Chace is being held on a $1 million bail, Rankin on a $500,000 cash or surety bail. Formal charges are expected to be filed later today.