PASCO, Wash. -- Kurtis Chapman, the Pasco man accused of strangling his pregnant ex-girlfriend, walked into a Franklin County Superior courtroom for his first appearance before a judge Thursday. Many of the victim's family members and friends, as well as Chapman's family and friends attended the hearing.
Chapman is charged with second-degree murder for the death of 19-year-old Shenay Greenough. KEPR Action News uncovered the court documents describing what happened the night Greenough was murdered. Read the full affadavit in support of probable cause
here.
Those court documents state that Greenough's body was found underneath Chapman's dad's home on N. Waldemar Avenue in Pasco on Monday. Greenough was pregnant with her second child at the time of her death, expected to deliver next month.
After the hearing, shenay's mom, Christina Sullian, spoke out for the first time about her daughter. "She was everything to me, she was my whole life and that's why I am going to miss her so much and I already do because I keep waiting for her to walk in the door," she said through tears.
The story started two days earlier, when Greenough's mom reported her daughter missing to the West Richland Police. According to the documents, Sullivan told police that Greenough left home early Monday morning with Chapman. Later that day, a witness told police he saw Greenough and Chapman leave a Kennewick home at around 3 PM to talk. Three hours later, the witness stated Chapman came back to the Kennewick home but without Greenough. Chapman told this witness he had strangled her at her dad's home.
During this three-hour window, another witness told police they'd been texting Greenough, who said she'd been fighting with Chapman about a recent break-up.
Finally, a third witness told police that Chapman admitted to killing his ex-girlfriend but didn't mean to kill her, rather wanted her to go to sleep.
Franklin County Coroner Dan Blasdel confirmed to Action News that Greenough died from strangulation and her baby died from lack of oxygen because Shenay was strangled. Blasdel said the young mom was about 30 weeks along. Franklin County Prosecutor Steve Lowe didn't make any comments Thursday about amending charges to include the death of the baby, but in the state of Washington, a person can be charged with manslaughter for that crime.
Chapman, 22, was extradited back to the Tri-Cities on Wednesday, a day after a statewide manhunt. He was eventually caught by authorities in a park in Pendleton.
Chapman's expected to make a plea during an arraingment this Tuesday. His bail is set at $1 million.
SHENAY GREENOUGH MEMORIAL INFORMATION
Friends are organizing a vigil this Sunday, May 16th at 5:30 PM at Volunteer Park in Pasco. The event will include a domestic violence speaker and a balloon release.
A funeral has been set for this coming Tuesday at 11 AM at the South Hills Church in Kennewick.
Both events are open to the public.
