Authorities wait out Washington slaying suspect holed up in a bunker

Authorities wait out Washington slaying suspect holed up in a bunker

By Phil Gast, CNN

updated 12:15 PM EDT, Sat April 28, 2012

Murder suspect may be hiding in bunker

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• "There is no urgency. We have him contained," official says
• The fugitive is believed to be armed and in a bunker east of Seattle, authorities say
• Peter Keller is suspected of killing his wife and daughter
• His motive for the slayings is unclear

(CNN) -- Authorities early Saturday waited out a Washington man wanted in the killings of his wife and daughter who is believed to be holed up in a fortified bunker near Seattle.

SWAT and other teams aren't forcing the situation because of the danger involved in rushing inside the bunker to try to arrest Peter Keller, 41, said Sgt. Cindi West of the King County Sheriff's Office.

"There is no urgency. We have him contained," West said.

Authorities believe Keller remains inside the bunker because they have seen lights go on and off inside, sheriff's Sgt. Katie Larson said. They are confident that all exits are secured.

It is believed that Keller has rifles and handguns in the bunker, and deputies "sure as hell (are) taking precautions," Larson said.

They also think Keller has a computer in the bunker with an air card that gives him Internet access.

Authorities fired tear gas late Friday into the bunker set into the Cascade foothills about 25 miles east of Seattle, though it was unclear whether the gas went deep enough to have any effect.

Keller has not been seen since Sunday following a fire at his home, where the bodies of his wife and teenage daughter were discovered.

His standoff with authorities began Friday after investigators found evidence that led them to the bunker near Rattlesnake Ridge Trail, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

"We can't send people in there because of safety," West said.

Investigators do not have a clear motive for the slayings, according to West.

Keller, who does not have a criminal record, has been described as a survivalist by some relatives, West said.

"We gathered he had a doomsday attitude ... family and friends have indicated he thought the world was going to end at some point," West said.

Keller likely has plenty of arms and supplies, officials said.

"We know he in the past has had a number of rifles, scopes and handguns. He purchased some kind of bulletproof vest," West said.

Clues to Keller's whereabouts came while investigators were processing evidence at the house, authorities said. People in the area also reported seeing Keller's pickup truck near the trailhead.

"This isn't a hole in the ground. This is a large built-up structure," Sheriff Steven D. Strachan said of the bunker. "But hidden. It took some time to find it. In fact our tactical team smelled the wood smoke coming before they actually saw it."

Strachan said Keller's house nearby was set afire Sunday after the slayings, but it failed to spread beyond the kitchen. Authorities found a hard drive with photos, he told CNN Seattle affiliate KING.

One photo was enhanced and it aided in the search for Keller, who authorities said had been building the bunker for at least eight years.

"We believe he has taken pictures from 2004 to the present day," West. said

She said she did not know the precise size of the bunker, made partially of earth and logs.

"We believe it is very large," the spokeswoman said. "He has had plenty of time to work on it."

The sheriff's office this week obtained an arrest warrant for Keller stipulating two counts of first-degree murder and first-degree arson.

The bunker was found early Friday about 800 yards off the trail. It's possible the bunker has an escape hatch or door, officials said.

Keller works with a company that refurbishes and sells computers, according to West.

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