Three men – Danie Kelly Jr., Robert Watson III, and Johnny Watson – were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of the Careaga family in Washington state in 2017. They were each sentenced to four life sentences for first-degree murder, as well as additional time for attempted murder convictions and firearm enhancements. The victims included Christale Careaga, Hunter Schaap, Johnathon Higgins, and John Careaga, who owned a successful Mexican restaurant in Bremerton. John Careaga was also involved in drug trafficking, bringing cocaine from California to sell locally.
Detectives revealed that John Careaga had hidden hundreds of thousands of dollars under his home, which was never found after his death. They also discovered that Robert Watson, a leader in a local chapter of the Bandidos motorcycle club, had received over $300,000 in deposits in 2017, with many of the sources of the cash remaining unidentified. Kelly, who was associated with the Bandidos as a “hang-around,” and had a falling out with Careaga, was seen driving John Careaga’s truck away from the scene of the murders with another car following closely behind.
During the trial, defense attorneys attempted to cast doubt on the timeline of events and cellphone tower data used to track the movements of the perpetrators. They argued that there was no evidence of robbery or theft at the Careaga home. However, the jury found the three men guilty, leading to their sentencing to life in prison. The victims’ family members spoke in court, describing the pain and loss the blended family has endured since the murders. John Careaga was remembered as a loving father and uncle, Crystal Careaga as a bright light, Johnathon Higgins as a big teddy bear, and Hunter Schaap as a courageous young man who called 911 to report the intruders on the night of the murders.
The motive behind the killings was alleged to be related to drugs and money, with tensions escalating between John Careaga and Robert Watson leading up to the homicides. The friend who introduced Careaga to Watson stopped selling drugs, prompting Watson to intensify his dealings with Careaga, eventually culminating in the tragic events of January 27, 2017. Kelly and the Watson brothers, despite being associated with the Bandidos motorcycle club, were not believed to have committed the murders on behalf of the group. The loss of the Careaga family has left a lasting impact on their loved ones, who continue to grieve and seek justice for the senseless violence that claimed their lives.
The sentencing of Danie Kelly Jr., Robert Watson III, and Johnny Watson marked the end of a lengthy legal process that exposed the tragic events surrounding the Careaga family murders. With each man receiving consecutive life sentences, the court sought to ensure that they would never have the opportunity for parole. The legacy of the victims, including their successful business in Bremerton and their close-knit family dynamic, was remembered in court as family members shared their memories of their lost loved ones. Despite the closure brought by the sentencing, the scars left by the brutal killings will forever remain with those who knew and loved the Careaga family.
