NEED TO KNOW
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Thomas Brown, 31, was arrested in association with the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Evan Clark and 18-year-old Pandora Kjolsrud, who were found dead in Arizona after going camping for Memorial Day weekend
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The suspect was arrested more than four months after the teens’ bodies were found
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Court documents suggest that there is DNA evidence linking Brown to the case
More than four months after the bodies of two Arizona teens were found fatally shot, a suspect has finally been apprehended.
In the late hours of Thursday, Oct. 2, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that their detectives arrested 31-year-old Thomas Brown as a suspect in the murders of 17-year-old Evan Clark and 18-year-old Pandora Kjolsrud.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, the office wrote that Sheriff Jerry Sheridan would provide more information during a press conference on Friday, Oct. 3, at 10 a.m. local time.
Brown’s mugshot was released alongside a video of the suspect being removed from a sheriff’s vehicle and processed for detention. In it, he had his hands cuffed behind his back and was escorted by two officers. The video ended with him being shut in a holding cell.
According to reporting by ABC15, Brown appeared in front of a judge and was charged with two counts of murder in the first degree on Thursday.
He is being held on a $2 million bond and will appear in court again on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
The outlet cited court paperwork, which alleged that DNA evidence found at the scene of the crime linked him to the case.
Clark and Kjolsrud’s bodies were found near Mount Ord in the Tonto National Forest, which is located in Maricopa County, Ariz., on May 27. They were reportedly in the area camping over Memorial Day weekend, according to reporting by Fox10.
The Sheriff’s Office addressed the murders in a statement shared with PEOPLE on June 1, saying that they were “actively working” on identifying a suspect responsible for the deadly shooting.
“MCSO is seeking the community’s assistance,” the statement continued. “If you have any information — no matter how small — that may be relevant to this case, we strongly encourage you to come forward. Your help could be critical in bringing answers and justice to the victims and their families. You may remain anonymous.”
ABC15 reported in May that officers were called to a campsite near the area on May 27. The cause of death was listed as homicide by the Maricopa County Medical Examiner.
“At this time, our focus is on conducting a comprehensive and meticulous investigation to ensure justice for the victims and their loved ones,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement shared with the outlet. “We are coordinating closely with our law enforcement partners and ask for patience and respect for the investigative process as we work through the facts.”
Both Evans and Kjolsrud were students at Arcadia High School in Phoenix.
A GoFundMe for Kjolsrud described her as having “a vivacious personality with an infectious smile that brought joy to so many.”
“She was a beautiful human being and a bright light in this world who loved every single person she met and had a unique ability to make every person feel special,” the tribute continued. “She loved music in all of its forms and enjoyed playing violin, cello and guitar. The outdoors is where she truly felt at home. She loved camping, horseback riding, kayaking and hiking with friends and family.”
GoFundMe
Pandora Kjolsrud
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Clark’s mother, Sandra Malibu Sweeney, shared a statement about the loss of her “only child” and “beloved son” on another GoFundMe.
“This last week, Evan was taken from me, and my level of grief feels insurmountable. I find myself at a complete loss to imagine a life without him. It is a small comfort to share some things about this boy who was on his way to becoming a wonderful man,” she wrote, describing her son as “not a typical teenager.”
The statement continued: “He was funny, bright, kind and entrepreneurial. He was an old soul who was sensitive and loving. Evan wrote me letters, the last of which he gave me on Mother’s Day that was so touching it made me both laugh and cry. He was special. He deserved a long life.”
Read the original article on People
