Posted 8/29/2012 9:49 AM by KWESTBERG
On Tuesday, August 28, 2012, at about 10:00 p.m., Spokane County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the area of 25200 N. Sands Road to investigate a possible burglary in progress. Deputies arrived on scene and contacted the homeowner who told deputies they
live near the residence on Sands Rd., which they had inherited about ten years prior. The owner told deputies the home had been unoccupied but that the residence was furnished.
On the evening of Monday, August 27, the homeowner said he and his wife found a Ford Explorer parked on the inherited property. Deputies responded but were not able to locate the vehicle. On Tuesday night, August 28, neighbors called the homeowner's and told
them the same Ford Explorer was parked on the property.
The homeowner responded to the scene and was able to see some type of blue light emanating from a basement window. The homeowner called 911 and waited for law enforcement to arrive. Once Deputies and a Spokane Police Department K-9 Unit arrived on scene, they
were able to call two suspects out of the residence.
The male suspect was identified as 23 year old Chaun Herkimer and the female suspect was identified as 35 year old Karen Lilyblad. Herkimer told deputies that he is homeless and that he and his girlfriend, Lilyblad, drove to the residence on Sands Road on Monday,
August 27th, and stayed the night. Herkimer said he knew about the vacant house from previously living in the area. Herkimer told deputies he and Lilyblad returned the following evening, Tuesday, August 28, entered the house through an "open" back door and
stayed the night.
Deputies walked through the residence with the homeowners and saw multiple duffel bags lined up against the walls that contained several items from inside the residence. The homeowner told deputies the house had been "ransacked" and estimated repairs at or
near $5,000.00. There was also a broken window near the back door where the suspects gained entry into the residence.
• Both Herkimer and Lilyblad were booked into the Spokane County Jail on the charges of 2nd Degree Burglary and Malicious Mischief 1st Degree. Herkimer was also booked on two unrelated warrants.