Police Department

Murder Arrest

Cpl. Nick Briggs, PIO

Monday, November 1, 2021 at 3:27 p.m.

SPD arrests murder suspect after body is found in trunk of vehicle

On 10-22-21 SPD patrol officers responded to the area of 1800 E Everett regarding an abandoned vehicle with a foul odor emanating from it.

SPD patrol officers spoke with several individuals who indicated they believed the body of a deceased person was located in the trunk; SPD officers verified human remains were contained within the vehicle.

Spokane Major Crimes Unit (MCU) detectives worked diligently to solve the complex case. The victim was identified as a 19-year-old male, and on 10-29-21, 60-year-old John Eisenman was arrested for 1^st degree murder. The following is a synopsis of the circumstances: 

In October 2020 Eisenman learned his juvenile daughter was allegedly sold to a sex-trafficking organization in the Seattle area. Eisenman obtained information his daughter’s boyfriend (the deceased) may have been the one responsible for her sale. Eisenman was able to rescue his daughter and get her back to the Spokane area in October 2020.

In November 2020, Eisenman learned his daughter’s boyfriend was going to be at a location in Airway Heights, WA. Eisenman waited for the victim and confronted the 19-year-old as he arrived. During that encounter Eisenman abducted the victim, tying him up and placing him in the trunk of a vehicle. Eisenman subsequently assaulted the victim by hitting him in the head with a cinder block and then stabbed him repeatedly, causing his death.

After the homicide, Eisenman drove the vehicle to a remote area in North Spokane County and abandoned the car with the body still inside. The vehicle remained at that location until it was moved in October 2021 by a 3^rd-party and driven to Spokane. At this point it is not believed the 3^rd-party knew the body was in the trunk. The vehicle, with the body still in the trunk, was abandoned at the Everett location.  While parked on Everett, individuals were rummaging through the car and taking items when they made the gruesome discovery.

Eisenman was taken into custody by law enforcement without incident.

Current information is that the homicide took place in Airway Heights. Airway Heights Police have assisted SPD in the investigation, and will continue to be involved as the case progresses.

Prior to this incident Eisenman had no recent criminal history, nor any violent criminal history. He was booked into Spokane County Jail for murder 1^st degree.

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