| October 28, 1998 The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, Omak WA 98841 On-line Edition |
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By AL CAMP A search continues this week for a Mexican citizen accused of killing a Colville tribal member over money owed for drugs. A no-bail arrest warrant was issued Oct. 23 for Jose Luis Gonzalez-Castaneda, who is suspected of shooting Thomas Wade "Tommy" Marchand in the head. The detailed warrant provided a clearer picture of how and why Marchand died, based on interviews with reluctant witnesses. "Drugs, money and a bad attitude" led to Marchand's death, said Brad Wilson, chief criminal deputy with the Okanogan County Sheriff's Office. For several days following the discovery of Marchand's body Oct. 16 off Moses Meadows Road investigators were stymied in their search for details. Marchand's body was located a couple hundred feet off the road under brush about three miles from Highway 155. Investigators acted on tips to Omak Police and Colville Tribal Police when they interviewed Lloyd Zacherle about Marchand late Oct. 15 at the county jail. Zacherle, 38, was arrested on suspicion of delivery of cocaine Oct. 3 at the Todd Campbell residence a mile south of Okanogan. The arrest was part of a sweep that led to other arrests at two Omak homes. When investigators arrested Zacherle they were unaware that Marchand had been killed on a porch at the residence, said Wilson. The porch had been wiped down, said Wilson, who added the residence is isolated from neighbors and about 100 yards off Highway 97. Marchand allegedly arrived around 2 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Campbell residence with Lonnie Abrahamson, who remained with a vehicle, according to the warrant. Inside the residence were Gonzalez-Castaneda, Anita Duarte and Zacherle, said the arrest warrant. Campbell was out of the state on business. An argument apparently started between Gonzalez-Castaneda and Marchand. Although the exact reason for the argument remains somewhat unclear, said the warrant, the men were arguing over money owed for drugs purchased from Gonzalez-Castaneda by either the victim or his brother, Louis Marchand. Duarte was in a bedroom with Gonzalez-Castaneda when Marchand arrived. Gonzalez-Castaneda put a pistol in his belt before leaving the room, said Wilson. When Gonzalez-Castaneda confronted Marchand, the victim allegedly said, in effect, "If you are going to use that gun, use it," said the arrest warrant. The two men went onto a porch, there was the sound of a gunshot and a body falling to the ground, said the warrant. Zacherle and Duarte rushed to the porch to find Marchand's body. Zacherle motioned for Abrahamson to leave, and he did, said the arrest warrant. Gonzalez-Castaneda told Zacherle to get rid of the body, and it was loaded onto a door and into a station wagon. The door was later recovered and the vehicle impounded. Duarte allegedly drove Gonzalez-Castaneda to his motel in Brewster after the shooting. After police found Marchand's body, a search warrant was issued for Campbell's residence. A close examination found blood on a wall next to the deck, under the deck and on deck supports, said Wilson. Blood also was found in the station wagon. The murder weapon was not found, Wilson said. Wilson said rumors were incorrect that Louis Marchand and possibly others also were killed. "We're not looking for any more bodies," said Wilson, who said Louis Marchand and others were difficult to locate. "The problem was that they were scared for their own lives. The threat ... was real. "The witnesses are cooperating more or less," said Wilson. "They have come out of hiding. They want to tell their story." During the investigation, officers knew the suspect only as Jose for several days, said Wilson, who said the suspect allegedly had been dealing drugs in the area for several years. Three days after Marchand was found, Oct. 19, police were able to learn the suspect's full name. Gonzalez-Castaneda was a resident alien listed as a farm laborer. The FBI was notified of Marchand's death, since it apparently occurred on the reservation and involved a tribal member, said Wilson, who said the FBI is routinely called in on such matters. The FBI could file charges later against Zacherle, a tribal member, for allegedly assisting in hiding Marchand's body, said Wilson. The sheriff's department is involved because the suspect is not a tribal member, said Wilson. Although Gonzalez-Castaneda had drug connections in the Wenatchee area, where police got their first photo of him, he is suspected of having fled to Mexico, said Wilson. Gonzalez-Castaneda was stopped Oct. 12 in East Wenatchee, four days before Marchand's body was found and 13 days after Marchand's death. Two others with Gonzalez-Castaneda were charged with possession of cocaine, said Wilson. Gonzalez-Castaneda, who apparently used an alias, was not charged. He was fingerprinted, photographed and released, said Wilson. The sheriff's department also had a mug shot of Gonzalez-Castaneda from an arrest for not having a valid driver's license a year ago. Gonzalez-Castaneda was described in the warrant as 5 feet 9 inches tall, 170 pounds with short black hair and brown eyes. Marchand was raised in Omak and had numerous relatives in the area. A wake and burial were held last week. Marchand's obituary appears on Page 6. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 422-7200 or 1 (800) 572-6604. |
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