UPDATE: A man wanted for murder in Washington state has been arrested in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, following the discovery of his abandoned vehicle in Calabasas. Alexander Lee Rogers, 51, was taken into custody by police on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, after a swift investigation linked him to a brutal stabbing incident that left one victim dead.
The violent attack occurred last Tuesday just before noon at a home in Longview, Washington, where Rogers allegedly stabbed 73-year-old Andrew Peters and his sister-in-law, 64-year-old Dawn Peters. Tragically, Dawn succumbed to her injuries, while Andrew survived the assault. Family friend Jill Nunes expressed the family’s devastation, stating, “This is, like, unimaginable heartbreak. Every family member is devastated… please, everybody, just pray for them.”
Law enforcement officials describe the stabbing as unprovoked, with Longview Police Capt. Brandon McNew commenting on the horrific nature of the case. Investigators believe Rogers had a prior connection with the victims, having done some handyman work for them over the last few months. This work coincided with Rogers’ release after serving a 20-year prison sentence for a previous attempted murder conviction involving a machete in the early 2000s.
Just hours before the stabbing, police had an encounter with Rogers in a parking lot, where he received a verbal warning regarding vehicle licensing issues. There were no indications of criminal activity during that interaction.
After the violent attack, Rogers fled Washington, driving more than 1,000 miles to Southern California. On Monday, July 24, deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department located a vehicle matching the suspect’s description parked near a hiking trail in the 23000 block of Calabasas Road.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are piecing together the timeline of events leading up to the arrest. The community remains in shock as they grapple with the aftermath of this tragic incident.
What happens next? Rogers is expected to face charges related to the murder and assault as investigators continue to gather evidence. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.