Teen's anger at ex-friend led to killing, says detective

By Jennifer Sullivan
Times Snohomish County Bureau

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

The boy told Jeremy Boone, 16, of Sumner and Perry Rothermel, 18, of Puyallup they would make money off stealing three cars, guns and a laptop computer from the home of Larry Kloes.

But the three teens were arrested shortly after the Snohomish man's June 26 shooting death, Snohomish County sheriff's detective George Wilkins testified yesterday during a court hearing to determine whether the 15-year-old boy should be prosecuted as an adult.

Boone, who said he fatally shot Kloes, pleaded guilty last week to first-degree charges of murder, robbery and burglary. Rothermel's trial is set for next month.

Federal law requires that a judge consider several factors before remanding a child under the age of 16 to adult court, including the seriousness of the crime and the defendant's prior criminal history.

If a judge rules the boy should be prosecuted as an adult, he will be tried for aggravated first-degree murder, which would result in an automatic life sentence without parole if he's convicted.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Gerald Knight is expected to rule on the case as early as this week. The hearing is scheduled to resume this morning.

The Seattle Times generally does not publish the names of juvenile defendants unless they are charged as adults.

Wilkins testified yesterday that detectives suspected the 15-year-old soon after Kloes' body was found in his home.

He said five reports involving the teen were filed with Snohomish Police between Oct. 27, 2002, and May 3. Three were filed by Kloes and two others were filed after the boy allegedly ran away from home and allegedly stole a car, said Wilkins.

Kloes' family said the victim, who once dated the boy's mother, tried to keep the boy occupied with positive activities to make sure he stayed out of trouble. They said Kloes even let the boy live with him for two weeks when he was 13.
 
When Kloes told the boy that he and his friend could stay the night on May 2, he awoke early the next day to find they had loaded his laptop computer, guns, chain saw and motor oil into his sports car. Wilkins said Kloes found a steel floor-jack handle on the floor outside his bedroom.

"Mr. Kloes believed the metal bar was going to be used against him in his sleep," Wilkins testified.

Wilkins said the boy apologized to Kloes, who reported the incident to police. Kloes also told police that in December 2002 the boy showed up at his house but left after Kloes called 911. About a week later Kloes told police the boy had stolen his car.

Wilkins said the incident in May was similar to what happened when Kloes was killed. After breaking into Kloes' home, Boone, Rothermel and the 15-year-old boy loaded guns, electronics and other stolen items into Kloes' car. Before shooting Kloes, Wilkins said the 15-year-old taped an empty plastic juice bottle around the muzzle of the gun to create a homemade silencer.

Jennifer Sullivan: 425-783-0604 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com