MY EVERETT NEWS

Holly Ann Grigsby

Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe yesterday announced that he won’t be seeking the death penalty against Holly Ann Grigsby for her active involvement in the murders of Leslie (Dee Dee) Pedersen and her husband Red Pedersen. The body of Leslie Pedersen was found in her home at the Everett Mobile Country Club back on September 28th. She had been stabbed to death. That began an investigation leading to revelations of three additional murders stretching from Everett to California. Grigsby’s co-defendant, David (Joey) Pedersen has already pled guilty to the Everett murders and is serving life in prison. Here’s Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe’s statement on why he did not pursue the death penalty…

I have decided not to seek the death penalty for Holly Ann Grigsby. The charges remain two counts of Aggravated Murder in the First Degree, with Life Imprisonment without parole the only remaining sentencing option.
There is ample evidence that co-defendant David J. Pedersen’s hatred for his father was the primary motivation for these crimes. Unarguably, the nature of this defendants alleged physical acts, committed against a completely innocent victim, Leslie Pederson, almost defy description. Still, this defendant had no violent criminal history previous to this, is quite young at 24, and appears to have been following the lead of David J. Pedersen.
Proportionality also weighs against seeking death for this defendant after declining to do so for her co-defendant who was older, instigated the crimes, and had more criminal history, some of it violent.
The case remains set for trial. As is the practice of this office we will not further discuss specific facts of pending cases, pursuant to RPC 3.8. As always, the defendant is presumed innocent, and that presumption remains intact.

There is still the possibility that Federal authorities or prosecutors in Oregon or California could pursue the death penalty against Grigsby and Joey Pedersen for the murders the couple are suspected of in their jurisdictions.

Pedersen and Grigsby are being held in the Sno. Co.Jail on 1st degree murder charges

Shortly after 8:30 this evening, Holly Ann Grigsby and David Joseph Pedersen were booked into the Snohomish County Jail in downtown Everett. The two are suspected in the deaths of Pedersen’s father David “Red” Pedersen and his wife, Leslie “Dee Dee” Pedersen at the Mobile Country Club late last month. They are also the prime suspects in the killing of a man in Oregon and another in California after committing the murders in Everett. Earlier today, the two were brought to Everett and according to Everett Police Spokesman Robert Goetz, both spoke with detectives. They are each being held without bail on two counts of 1st degree murder and are expected to make a court appearance tomorrow in Everett. The Snohomish County Prosecutor will have to make a decision on whether or not to pursue the death penalty. There is also the possibility the case would be turned over to Federal prosecutors as the alleged killers murder spree covered three different states. That could save Snohomish County the massive cost of a double death penalty prosecution. We’ll try to follow developments as they unfold throughout Wednesday.