3 Teens Held In Killing -- Man Dies Near River In Attempted Robbery

GRANITE FALLS - It was supposed to be another peaceful afternoon spent testing a favorite fishing hole along the Pilchuck River.

But the outing turned violent when a Snohomish County man in his 40s was killed along the river's bank Saturday. Police say a group of teenagers attacked the man while trying to steal his pickup.

A 15-year-old Stanwood girl, a 16-year-old Snohomish County boy and a 19-year-old Arlington man are being held on suspicion of first-degree murder. Bail was set yesterday at $100,000 for each. A 14-year-old Arlington girl was held on an outstanding arrest warrant from a previous incident.

Police found the man's body lying near his truck shortly after the four fled the remote area frequented by anglers, campers, motorcycle riders and target shooters.

The teenagers were arrested as they tried to hide behind houses in a quiet neighborhood of single-family homes several miles from the crime scene.

The victim's identity has not been released pending notification of his relatives. Detectives yesterday took aerial photographs of the crime scene, located six miles down a gravel road that branches off the Menzel Lake Road, southeast of Granite Falls.

Neighbors and campers said the wilderness area, which has a network of dirt and gravel roads traveling several miles to Spada Lake in the east and Sultan in the south, is a popular retreat.

"There's people up there that like to have a good time and get away," Barbara Fenton said. "Then there's others that have to wreck it."

Fenton and her husband have lived near the entrance to the area for six years. A sign near the road that says "No Shooting" is riddled with bullet holes.

It's common to hear gunfire at all hours of the evening, neighbors say, and to see groups of teenagers or campers drinking in the area.

A witness who reported the incident to police shortly before 7 p.m. said some in the group of suspects were beating the man, who had fallen to the ground.

The suspects initially were given a ride from the crime scene by a passer-by who did not realize the four had been involved in a crime, police said.

When the car reached Menzel Lake Road, the suspects spotted police cars with sirens responding to the scene. The suspects got out of the car and ran into the neighborhood, where they were caught moments later.

Snohomish County bureau reporter Tina Kelley contributed to this report.