Each man sentenced to more than 32 years in prison

OKANOGAN – A man and his son were found guilty in the premeditated murder of Michael R. Carrigan, Hoquium, Wash., who was hunting near their Pontiac Ridge home in September of 2013.

On Nov. 23, 2015 a jury in Okanogan County Superior Court found John Wayne Jennings, 59, Chesaw, guilty of first-degree murder and delivery of a firearm to an ineligible person. His son Adam Shaun Jennings, 29, Chesaw, was also found guilty of first-degree murder, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm. Each was sentenced Nov. 24, 2015 to 393 months (32.75 years) in prison and fined $7,299.50 for the Sept. 3, 2013 crimes. The trial began Nov. 16

Carrigan, who was 52 at the time he was killed, was grouse hunting with George R. Stover, 65, also of Hoquiam. According to Stover, the two of the them were driving around looking for grouse on Pontiac Ridge. Stover told police they drove onto Cow Camp Road and saw a grouse in a tree off the side of the road. He said they stopped and Carrigan got out of the vehicle and walked into a field and shot at the grouse.

“Carrigan missed and shot again and according to Stover at this time he heard another shot come from somewhere else,” Sheriff Frank Rogers said at the time of the shooting. “Stover, who was still sitting in the vehicle, said he saw Carrigan turn around and could see blood on him. Stover said that Carrigan then fell down and at that time Stover said he heard another shot, so he drove out of the area to get help from law enforcement.”

Stover said the shot came from 33 Cow Camp Road and felt it was a .22 caliber weapon.

Members of the sheriff’s office, state Department of Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Border Patrol arrived on scene that night and discovered that Carrigan was dead from an apparent gunshot wound, according to Rogers. Members from the sheriff’s office, Fish and Wildlife and the State Patrol Crime Lab processed the crime scene, including the Jennings’ residence located approximately 100 yards from the scene.

The Jennings were interviewed and several items were collected from their residence, including 18 firearms and ammunition. While the firearms were registered in John Jennings name some were found in the son’s bedroom. Scrape marks on an aluminum window casing in a direct line of sight to where Carrigan was shot, were alleged to have been found during the investigation.

With the assistance of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Okanogan County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested the two men on Nov. 19, 2013 in connection with the death of a Hoquiam man, who left behind a wife and two sons.

An autopsy on Carrigan’s body conducted Sept. 4, 2013 by Dr. Gina Fino at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee listed the cause of death as a .22 caliber gunshot wound to the back.