ML man accused of killing father faces murder charge
Homicide reported Tuesday afternoon in Larson housing area.
Updated
EPHRATA — Grant County sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday arrested a Moses Lake man on suspicion of second-degree murder for allegedly killing his 79-year-old father at a home they shared in the Larson housing area.
Joel Ray Koch, 52, was taken into custody without incident near their duplex residence in the 8000 block of Travis Drive NE after his sister notified authorities of the homicide early Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators were told that Koch had a history of mental illness. The alleged victim, Jerry Ray Koch, was found deceased inside the home. According to a sheriff’s report, the elder Koch’s face appeared to have been beaten and he had torso wounds that exposed his intestines.
When Joel Koch’s sister arrived at the location shortly after 12:30 p.m. to check on her father, she observed her brother walking away with his dog. He allegedly told her, “You don’t want to go in there, dad’s not alive,” the sheriff’s report stated.
Deputies and detectives responded to the scene, along with Moses Lake police. Investigators said Joel Koch had blood on his clothing and shoes when taken into custody. During a subsequent interview, the report said, Koch behaved erratically by yelling, laughing incessantly, and continually interrupting one detective trying to read his constitutional Miranda rights.
When informed that his father was dead, Koch reportedly replied, “No, he’s not.” But Koch profanely admitted assaulting the older man during an argument Monday evening, then using a bag of store-bought ice trying to save him so he didn’t “bleed out,” the report said. A deputy transporting Koch to jail alleged that Koch made comments alluding to stabbing someone in the head with a screwdriver.
A neighbor provided video footage allegedly showing Joel Koch walking in a neighbor’s yard around 11:25 p.m. Monday, and Jerry Koch is heard yelling shortly afterward for his son to come home. No one else was seen arriving or leaving their residence, the report said.
Investigators were also told that Grant County’s Renew mental health services had a pickup order for the younger Koch Tuesday afternoon. Koch had apparently tested clean for alcohol and drugs about 10 days earlier, but his mental health had continued to deteriorate, the report said.
During a brief hearing Wednesday afternoon in Grant County Superior Court, Judge Melissa Chlarson granted a request from county chief deputy prosecutor Carlee Bittle for a mental competency evaluation of Koch. According to court records, Koch was being held in the jail’s crisis room and did not attend the hearing due to concerns for officer safety.
Chlarson did find probable cause to support the murder charge, appointed a public defender to represent Koch, and ordered that he continue to be held in custody without bail pending a Sept. 21 review hearing.
In a statement posted Wednesday on Facebook, Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete said, “This is a tragic incident for the family and our community. Our deputies and detectives are working diligently to ensure this case is thoroughly investigated. We extend our deepest condolences to those affected.”
Note: this article was updated at 4:07 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026 to reflect that a Grant County Superior Court judge ordered a mental competency evaluation of the defendant, who remains jailed without bail pending a Sept. 21 review hearing.
We use cookies to keep GCJ.news working and, with your consent, to understand how our community uses the site. We use this data only internally to run and improve the site — we never sell your personal information. See our cookie & privacy policies.
ML man accused of killing father faces murder charge
Homicide reported Tuesday afternoon in Larson housing area.
EPHRATA — Grant County sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday arrested a Moses Lake man on suspicion of second-degree murder for allegedly killing his 79-year-old father at a home they shared in the Larson housing area.
Joel Ray Koch, 52, was taken into custody without incident near their duplex residence in the 8000 block of Travis Drive NE after his sister notified authorities of the homicide early Tuesday afternoon.
Investigators were told that Koch had a history of mental illness. The alleged victim, Jerry Ray Koch, was found deceased inside the home. According to a sheriff’s report, the elder Koch’s face appeared to have been beaten and he had torso wounds that exposed his intestines.
When Joel Koch’s sister arrived at the location shortly after 12:30 p.m. to check on her father, she observed her brother walking away with his dog. He allegedly told her, “You don’t want to go in there, dad’s not alive,” the sheriff’s report stated.
Deputies and detectives responded to the scene, along with Moses Lake police. Investigators said Joel Koch had blood on his clothing and shoes when taken into custody. During a subsequent interview, the report said, Koch behaved erratically by yelling, laughing incessantly, and continually interrupting one detective trying to read his constitutional Miranda rights.
When informed that his father was dead, Koch reportedly replied, “No, he’s not.” But Koch profanely admitted assaulting the older man during an argument Monday evening, then using a bag of store-bought ice trying to save him so he didn’t “bleed out,” the report said. A deputy transporting Koch to jail alleged that Koch made comments alluding to stabbing someone in the head with a screwdriver.
A neighbor provided video footage allegedly showing Joel Koch walking in a neighbor’s yard around 11:25 p.m. Monday, and Jerry Koch is heard yelling shortly afterward for his son to come home. No one else was seen arriving or leaving their residence, the report said.
Investigators were also told that Grant County’s Renew mental health services had a pickup order for the younger Koch Tuesday afternoon. Koch had apparently tested clean for alcohol and drugs about 10 days earlier, but his mental health had continued to deteriorate, the report said.
During a brief hearing Wednesday afternoon in Grant County Superior Court, Judge Melissa Chlarson granted a request from county chief deputy prosecutor Carlee Bittle for a mental competency evaluation of Koch. According to court records, Koch was being held in the jail’s crisis room and did not attend the hearing due to concerns for officer safety.
Chlarson did find probable cause to support the murder charge, appointed a public defender to represent Koch, and ordered that he continue to be held in custody without bail pending a Sept. 21 review hearing.
In a statement posted Wednesday on Facebook, Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete said, “This is a tragic incident for the family and our community. Our deputies and detectives are working diligently to ensure this case is thoroughly investigated. We extend our deepest condolences to those affected.”
Note: this article was updated at 4:07 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026 to reflect that a Grant County Superior Court judge ordered a mental competency evaluation of the defendant, who remains jailed without bail pending a Sept. 21 review hearing.