Union Gap police have identified a suspect in the beating deaths of a 63-year-old woman and her two dogs.
Jose Jhovanni Quezada, 34, is charged with first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree animal cruelty in connection with the death of Teena Ann Parise, who was found dead Sunday afternoon in an apartment in the 2100 block of Cornell Avenue. The charges carry domestic violence enhancements, as Quezada was considered a housemate of Parise’s, according to a charging document.
A $1 million warrant was issued Tuesday in Yakima County Superior Court for Quezada’s arrest. The vehicle he was known to be driving was seen at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing near San Diego, Calif., Saturday, according to a probable cause affidavit.
He should be considered armed and dangerous, police said.
Union Gap police went to Parise’s apartment shortly before 2:15 p.m. Sunday to check on her welfare. She was a subject of several Adult Protective Services referrals and was considered a vulnerable adult, the affidavit said.
Neighbors told police that they hadn’t seen Parise for several days. When officers tried to enter her apartment, they found a rocking chair propped against the unlocked door. Officers were able to get into the home and found Parise in her bed covered with a blanket, with two small dogs dead next to her.
Evidence suggested that she had been dead for two days, the affidavit said, and that she and the dogs were bludgeoned to death, with wounds to their heads.
Yakima County Coroner Marshall Slight said Parise’s autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday morning.
Washington State Patrol crime scene technicians processed the scene to collect evidence, and UGPD detectives questioned neighbors, the affidavit said. Quezada, the neighbors told police, was the father of Parise’s grandchild and was living with her in the apartment.
Parise was last seen alive the evening of May 22.
Her daughter told detectives that Parise lent Quezada $2,500 several months ago and that he had not repaid her, the affidavit said.
Video from nearby security cameras showed Quezada closing the trunk on Parise’s car around 5:45 p.m. May 22, the affidavit said. Videos also showed Quezada walking in the area around 3:45 a.m. the next day.
One neighbor said he heard an argument between Quezada and Parise about money, the affidavit said. Quezada was driving Parise’s daughter’s 2013 Dodge Caravan, which was registered in California, the affidavit said, and Flock cameras showed it in Sunnyside around 4:17 a.m. May 23. It was seen at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing near San Diego around 3:54 a.m. May 24.
Quezada, the affidavit said, has five felony convictions, including three counts of second-degree assault, second-degree theft and second-degree burglary.
Parise’s death is the first homicide in Union Gap this year, and the eighth in the county.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Union Gap police at 509-248-0430. Tips may also be left with Yakima County Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or online at https://yhne.ws/crimestoppers.
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