(The child was playing video games in another room with headphones on during the deadly confrontation. Photo: Bailey-Cooper Photography/Alamy)
Longview, Wash. (Nov. 9, 2024) — A married couple’s domestic incident on Halloween night in Longview, Washington, claimed the lives of both of them while their 11-year-old child was in a separate room.
Deputies from the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from the child, who discovered the scene and reported it after finding both parents injured in the kitchen of their Olympia Way home.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office released details of the incident on Nov. 7, confirming that Juan Antonio Alvarado Saenz, 38, and his wife Cecilia Robles Ochoa, 39, were both killed during a violent confrontation.
Responding deputies and medics arrived at the residence just after 6 p.m., where they found the couple unresponsive.
Despite emergency aid from deputies and medics with Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue, both were pronounced dead at the scene.
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According to authorities, the couple’s 11-year-old child had been playing video games in a separate room with earbuds in during the fatal incident and did not witness the altercation.
When the child found their parents injured, they immediately called 911.
Investigators learned through the autopsy that Alvarado Saenz suffered multiple stab wounds to his chest, while Robles Ochoa’s injuries included both gunshot and stab wounds.
The sheriff’s office reported that both a knife and a pistol were found at the scene.
The gun was later identified as a weapon stolen from Alvarado Saenz’s workplace, which had not been reported missing until after the events of Halloween night.
Authorities believe the incident was an isolated domestic conflict, and they emphasized there is “no evidence of any third-party involvement.”
(Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office vehicle. Photo: Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
Detectives have conducted a thorough investigation, processing the scene for evidence, interviewing neighbors and friends, and conducting autopsies to better understand the circumstances.
“Investigation at the scene and the autopsy results indicate that both subjects were assaulting each other, but investigators are unable to determine a primary aggressor,” the sheriff’s office noted in its statement.
During the investigation, law enforcement officials discovered that Alvarado Saenz and Robles Ochoa had been experiencing marital difficulties and had recently intended to separate.
According to close sources, tensions had been high between the two, but there had been no prior reports of police involvement for domestic issues.
Authorities have stated that their findings suggest the couple’s relationship troubles may have escalated into violence that evening.
Neighbors in the typically quiet area of Olympia Way expressed shock following the news of the incident.
One neighbor, who asked not to be named, described the couple as “private but generally friendly.”
They noted that although the family didn’t engage much with others in the neighborhood, there was “never any sign that something like this could happen.”
In the days following the incident, social media users responded with messages of support for the couple’s child, who now faces the aftermath.
“Omg, that poor child. Prayers for the child,” tweeted one user.
Another user, reflecting on the impact, wrote, “Does it matter who started the fight? They’re dead, and the child is an orphan.”
The sheriff’s office has assured the public that efforts are being made to provide support services for the child and remaining family members.
The Cowlitz County Chaplaincy was contacted to offer counseling services to the child and family, providing necessary support through the grief and trauma left in the wake of the parents’ deaths.
According to the sheriff’s office, the chaplaincy has a long-standing relationship with local law enforcement and often aids families dealing with tragic events.
Authorities were able to quickly respond to the scene after the 11-year-old called for help.
Upon their arrival, deputies immediately began administering emergency aid, but their efforts, along with those of medics from Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue, were ultimately unsuccessful.
Officials have since conducted autopsies, which confirmed that Alvarado Saenz died from multiple stab wounds, while Robles Ochoa succumbed to injuries from both gunshot and stab wounds.
Law enforcement retrieved both the knife and the pistol from the kitchen, where the confrontation reportedly took place.
The firearm used in the incident was later confirmed to have been stolen from Alvarado Saenz’s employer.
However, his employer did not report the gun missing until after the events of Halloween night, raising questions as to how the firearm came into play during the couple’s confrontation.
In a public statement, the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office assured residents that there is “no indication of any ongoing threat to the public,” indicating that the event appeared to be isolated to the household.
According to a spokesperson from a nearby domestic violence support organization, “This tragedy is a sad reminder of how important it is to encourage those in challenging relationships to reach out for assistance, whether to friends, family, or local organizations. It’s critical that individuals in volatile situations have options and support.”
The sheriff’s office is now prioritizing the care and mental well-being of the 11-year-old who survived the tragic event.
Law enforcement officials have not released further details on custody or guardianship plans for the child, but it is likely that child services and extended family members will be involved in future care arrangements.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office extended its gratitude to the Cowlitz County Chaplaincy for assisting the family during the investigation, offering emotional support services and grief counseling.
