Washington fraternal twins accused of beating a young father to death
12/14/2022 2:56 pm PST
LACEY, Wash. (TCD) -- A 32-year-old man is in custody and his fraternal twin is still at large after a 36-year-old father was reportedly beaten to death in a hotel parking lot.
On the night of Aug. 30, Lacey Police officers responded to a hotel in the 100 block of College Street to a report of a fight, the department announced in a news release. At the scene, officers reportedly found the unconscious victim, Sean Shay, of Kenmore, Washington.
Police said the victim had suffered injuries to his head and was transported to St. Peter Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
According to police, after a "lengthy" investigation, detectives identified the suspects as Nicholas VanDuren and his fraternal twin, Alexander VanDuren.
Shay was staying at the Super 8 Motel with his partner and two young children, KOMO-TV reports. One of the victim’s children reportedly believed that someone broke into their car.
Shay allegedly began to argue with the twins through the motel window and went outside to confront them to find out what was happening.
According to KOMO, the twins "pushed and punched the victim." He fell and reportedly suffered a "fracture to the back of his head."
Additionally, according to court records obtained by KOMO, the twins kicked and struck Shay in the head with "brass knuckles" while he was on the ground before police found him unconscious.
Police said Alexander VanDuren was found and taken into custody, but authorities are still searching for Nicholas VanDuren. They say he is driving a 2016 Ford Fusion with license plate CEJ9093. He also has a tattoo on his right shoulder with an ace of spades card.
Nicholas VanDuren reportedly has a criminal history, including 24 arrests and six felony convictions.
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