PORT TOWNSEND — A man identified today as Michael J. Pierce of Quilcene was charged in connection with an arson and double homicide in Quilcene on March 18.
Pierce, 34, is charged with 11 felonies in connection with the incident. Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Juelie Dalzell, for a court hearing, described Pierce is a repeat offender with 13 misdemeanors and 10 prior felonies on his record.
The arrest of Pierce comes less than two weeks after investigators discovered that Patrick Yarr, 60, and Janice Kay Yarr, 57, had died before fire consumed their farm home at 780 Boulton Farm Road, off U.S. Highway 101 north of Quilcene.
The probable cause report from Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says Pierce is claiming that a second man shot the Yarrs and started the blaze, but he is unwilling to give up a name without some type of deal from the prosecuting attorney.
Pierce was identified by investigators after a video surveillance camera at an ATM machine allegedly recorded him using the Yarrs’ debit card minutes after the blaze began.
The fire was intentionally set, investigators said.
The Yarrs’ bodies were discovered inside their burned home March 19, the day after the blaze.
