Man Sought In Death Of Spokane Taxi Owner

SPOKANE

A 45-year-old man was being sought yesterday in the slaying of a taxi owner whose body was found inside his burning cab.

A first-degree murder warrant was issued against Jerome Paul Honton, who had been living with the victim's estranged wife, sheriff's spokesman Lt. Norm Nickerson said.

Honton is wanted in the slaying of Bruce Orchard, 50, a cab owner and driver who was starting his own cab company in Spokane. Orchard's body was found May 1 inside his burning cab at a car dealership in the Spokane Valley.

The assailant apparently shot Orchard several times and set the cab on fire, Nickerson said.