Wendy Rae's Family: "She didn't deserve this."

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By Chelsea Kopta

Summary

One day after a deadly shooting and it's still not clear exactly what happened to 22-year old Wendy Rae or 38-year-old Jason Janson. Both were shot in the head. The family of 22-year-old Wendy Rae spoke exclusively to Action News.

Story Published: Jul 9, 2007 at 5:56 PM PST

Wendy Rae's Family: "She didn't deserve this."
CONNELL -- One day after a deadly shooting and it's still not clear exactly what happened.

Kennewick police said it's still to early to tell exactly what happened or why.

This is what they do know for sure.

Sunday's shooting in Kennewick left 22-year old Wendy Rae dead.

Her 38-year-old boyfriend Jason Jansen remains in a Seattle hospital.

Both were shot in the head.


THE AUTOPSY

Preliminary autopsy results came back for Rae on Monday.

The Benton County Coroner said it appears the gunshot wound is what killed Rae.

There is no other significant trauma on her body.

But they can't close the results until they get toxicology and pathology results back.

Some neighbors also speculated that Wendy was pregnant.

They reported hearing that during an argument.

The coroner confirmed Monday, she was not expecting.

In the meantime, Jansen's doctors said he is recovering.

He was upgraded to serious condition and is scheduled for surgery.

Police hope he'll be able to shed some light on this shooting once he's feeling better.

The investigation is ongoing but police are not looking for a suspect.


THE FAMILY REMEMBERS WENDY

At this point, there are still so many unanswered questions.

It could be a murder, attempted murder, murder-suicide or even a double suicide attempt.

But Action News found out more about the people behind these mysterious deaths.

The family of 22-year-old Wendy Rae spoke exclusively to Action News.

Without very many answers, Wendy's family and friends clung to each other for support at their home in Connell.

That's where Wendy is from originally.

Her family knows one thing for sure: Wendy was a dynamic young woman who didn't deserve to die this way.

"You can't ask why. You can't ask why or you'll just drive yourself crazy," close family friend of the Rae's, Lynn Lyle, said. "You can forgive but you'll never forget."

Lynn Lyle is one of many who will never forget.

She is a close family friend of the Rae's.

At Wendy's parent's home Monday morning, Lyle shared pictures and told stories to help us understand, what a broken-hearted family couldn't manage to say.

"This is at my house," Lyle said as she pointed to a picture of Wendy in a photo album. "This is her modeling for a competition Pomeroy has."

Lyle said Wendy was like a daughter to her.

"Her mom shared her with me," she said.

Wendy lived with Lyle when she was a junior in high school.

Lynn said the 22-year-old was a girl of many facets: a free-spirt, a singer, a dancer, a tomboy.

She loved to work on motorcycles.

"She had it it all: the looks, the brains, a singing voice out of this world," Lyle said. "She loved going everywhere. She just loved life."

While in Kennewick Lyle said Wendy had a number of odd jobs.

She was working toward her G.E.D. and her family said she lived happily with her boyfriend Jason Jansen for four years.

"I didn't know Jason that well but I knew she was happy," Lyle said.

Wendy put an album together for her mom Jeri.

It still has empty pages left for more pictures.

Now, Jeri said, she will be the one to finish putting together the memories of a daughter she will never forget.

"My sweet Wendy," Lyle said. "She lived life and loved life. Just too soon."

Action News did try calling Jansen's family.

They did not want to talk Monday.


WENDY AND JASON'S RELATIONSHIP

Part of understanding the shooting is understanding the relationship between Wendy Rae and Jason Jansen.

The family said the couple dated for four years.

They even lived together in Kennewick.

But most of the family said they didn't know Jansen very well.

They didn't have picture of the two together.

and they know police are *not looking for a suspect, which leaves just Rae and Jansen at the scene of the crime.

One family friend of the Rae's believes a third person is responsible.

She couldn't believe Rae or Jansen could have pulled the trigger.

The rest of the family is looking for answers from police and the coroner, and staying positive about what little they do know about their relationship.

"They had many ups and downs, but more ups than downs," Lyle said. "Way more."