Police Department

Three Arrests in Connection to Body Located in Kootenai County

Monique Cotton, Public Information & Communication Director, 509.363.8285

Thursday, May 29, 2014 at 2:48 p.m.

Spokane Police have arrested and charged 3 people with 1st Degree Murder in connection to the on-going investigation into a body located in Kootenai County on May 16th. The following individuals were arrested and booked into the Spokane County Jail last night.

• 47-year-old Jeffery B. Sankey
• 40-year-old Judy L. Diamond
• 44-year-old Peter E. O’Brien

Attached is a news release from the Kootenai County Sheriff and Kootenai County Coroner regarding the identity of the body located in Kootenai County. The individual has been identified as Mark Broadwater, a man reported missing out of Spokane in April of last year.

Spokane Police Major Crimes detectives have actively investigated the case since Mr. Broadwater was reported missing.

In mid-May of 2014, Spokane Police arrested one of the suspects, Peter O’Brien, on an unrelated charge. Major Crimes detectives already had information that O’Brien may have been involved in the disappearance of Mr. Broadwater. Detectives interviewed O’Brien. This interview led to the development of information surrounding Mr. Broadwater’s death and the location of his remains.

Detectives believe Mr. Broadwater knew his assailants and believe his death occurred during the commission of a drug-related robbery.

No suspects are believed to be outstanding.

Two of the three suspects have prior felony convictions.

Jeffery Sankey has 12 felony convictions, including: Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (x2); Possession of a Controlled Substance without a Prescription (x3), 2nd Degree Possession of Stolen Property, Residential Burglary, 1st Degree Burglary, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (x2), and 3rd Degree Assault.

Peter O’Brien has 8 felony convictions, including: Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm; 1st Degree Possession of Stolen Property; Theft of a Motor Vehicle without Permission; Harassment; Theft of a Firearm.

Judy Diamond does not have any felony convictions in the state of Washington.

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