Couple found slain in Kent home

King County sheriff's detectives are investigating the slayings of a man and woman whose bodies were found Wednesday in their home in a suburban neighborhood east of Kent.

The married couple were found dead in their home in the 21200 block of 124th Avenue Southeast in unincorporated King County by one of their sons, according to Sgt. John Urquhart, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.

No suspects have been identified in the slayings, he said.

"It's still a whodunit at this point," Urquhart said Wednesday evening while standing outside the couple's home.

Authorities did not release the names of the couple, but according to neighbors and property records they are Joe, 66, and Karen Housley, 67.

Urquhart said police were called around 7 a.m. Wednesday by the couple's son, who said he was concerned about his parents' welfare and asked deputies to check on them, Urquhart said.

Deputies went to the house but found it locked and no obvious signs of a problem. They called the son back and asked him if he wanted deputies to break down the door or enter through a window, Urquhart said.

The son declined, saying that he and his wife were already on their way to the neatly tended split-level house near Kentridge High School. The son lives about four hours away from his parents' home.

When the son arrived around 12:30 p.m., Urquhart said, he entered the home and found his parents dead.

Urquhart did not say whether investigators know how the couple died.

The cause and manner of death will be officially released by the King County Medical Examiner's Office after autopsies have been performed, Urquhart said.

He said the bodies were found in different parts of the house.

A second adult son, who neighbors and police said had been living with his parents over the past couple of months, was not at the house, Urquhart said.

Urquhart said last night that detectives want to talk to the second son but were not actively searching for him.

According to neighbor Don Adams, the Housleys "were like everybody else around here. They tended to their own work and minded their own business."

He said Joe Housley was a machinist who worked in Auburn and loved to restore classic cars.

"He had four or five cars he rebuilt and took out to shows," Adams said.

Karen Housley worked at a bank, Adams said. An Internet search shows she also was a member of the Puget Sound chapter of the Pontiac-Oakland Club International car club.

"She was really nice," said Kim Kaur, 15, who lives in the neighborhood.

Kaur said Karen Housley always donated to her school-fundraising activities.

"Even if she didn't want to buy anything, she would make a donation," Kaur said.

Adams said the Housleys were away for the weekend, apparently in connection with a car event.

They took the trailer they used to haul their rebuilt cars around and were gone until Sunday night, he said.

Adams said he thought he saw lights on at the house on Tuesday night.

On Wednesday afternoon, he said both of the Housleys' primary, everyday cars were gone. The truck belonging to the son who lives with them remained in the driveway.

"This doesn't look too good," Adams said. "This ain't good for the neighborhood."

Seattle Times news researcher Miyoko Wolf contributed to this report.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com