Top ’11’ Stories of 2014 – Kennewick Brother, Sister Deaths Ruled Murder-Suicide

It was one of the most tragic stories of 2014.

It was a story that in the early hours had many area residents fearing there may be a killer on the loose in Kennewick, after a June 9th shooting of two youngsters.

But as the investigation progressed,  officials ruled out any outside involvement in the deaths of 12-year-old Ethan Austin, and 16-year-old Kaitlin Austin.

Benton County Coroner John Hansens released a report in October that concluded what many feared:  the two deaths were a murder-suicide.

According to Hansens,  Ethan Austin fatally shot his sister, as she was found with multiple gunshot wounds to her torso.  Hansens said Ethan died from a single gunshot wound to his head.

The incident shocked many in the community,  Kaitlin was a student at Kamiakin High School, and both were - to most who knew them - well liked and lived relatively normal lives.

Little other information is known,  no motive or reason for the incident was either found, or if it was,  it was not released.