Couple sentenced for killing Kent woman

Two parties responsible for the murder of a 39-year-old Kent woman, who was found in the trunk of her burned car near Black Diamond, have been sentenced to prison.

  • BY Wire Service
  • Monday, August 25, 2014 6:56pm
  • News

By Eric Mandel
emandel@covingtonreporter.com

Two parties responsible for the murder of a 39-year-old Kent woman, who was found in the trunk of her burned car near Black Diamond, have been sentenced to prison.

Kent residents and co-defendants Kennon Fastrup, 32, and Michelle Backstrom, 37, were sentenced Friday, with Fastrup receiving 45½ years in prison and Backstrom sentenced to 12½ years.

A jury convicted Fastrup last month on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree arson, attempting to elude and violation of a no-contact order. Backstrom pled guilty in March to a charge of second-degree murder.

According to the King County Prosecutors, the pair murdered Denise Grigsby, 39, in May 2012 after an argument.

According to the charges, the murder occurred May 4 at Backstrom’s home on the East Hill, after an argument between Fastrup and Grigsby.

Grigsby’s body was found two days later, shortly after 4 a.m., when Mountain View Fire and Rescue responded to a report of a car fire in the area of Southeast 328th Street and Southeast Auburn-Black Diamond Road. The fire department found Grigsby’s Toyota Camry fully engulfed in flames, with her body, burned beyond recognition, in the trunk. Grisby was eventually identified through her dental records.

The couple was arrested May 11 in North Bend after a high-speed car pursuit. Investigators said they had been camping out in the woods near I-90 after the killing and car fire.

Following their arrest, Backstrom confessed to detectives that she had participated in the murder and arson, saying an argument among the three turned physical, moving from the kitchen to the garage. There, Backstrom claimed in the charging documents, Fastrup struck Grigsby in the head with a flashlight while Backstrom also punched. She stated that Fastrup strangled Grigsby with a braided metal cable, and when the cable became too slick with blood, Backstrom strangled Grigsby with a key lanyard, while Fastrup continued to strike the victim in the head.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Grigsby died from blunt force trauma to the head.

According to the charging documents, Fastrup denied participating in the murder, but confessed to burning the car. He claimed he did it at the request of Backstrom and did not know Grigsby was dead, or that her body was in the trunk, until they actually arrived at the scene and he opened the trunk. He said he burned the car anyway to assist Backstrom.

All three individuals were believed to be abusing methamphetamine.

Fastrup and Backstrom had lengthy criminal histories, according to Senior Deputy Prosecutor Kristin Richardson. Backstrom had been released from prison two years prior to this incident following a vehicular homicide conviction. Fastrup had previous convictions for attempting to elude, assault and drug and firearms violations.

“This was a brutal, harrowing murder with a hideous aftermath,” Richardson said in an email. “The convictions of these defendants will not bring back Denise Grigsby, but they delivered justice, and the community is safer as a result.”


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Photos by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing
Official ribbon cutting for the Kent Valley Bezos Academy, which is still accepting applications for the 2024-2025 school year.
Kent Valley Bezos Academy offers student-driven preschool experience

New school offers free enrollment to children of income-eligible families

COURTESY PHOTO, King County
Driver reportedly going 111 mph in Kent fatal collision

SeaTac man, 33, faces vehicular homicide, reckless driving charges in Nov. 4 death of 38-year-old woman

A National Civics Bee in Arizona. COURTESY PHOTO, Civics Bee
Kent Chamber of Commerce to offer civics contest for middle schoolers

Essay competition first step as part of 2025 National Civics Bee

t
Kent Police help catch alleged prolific graffiti vandal

Tacoma man reportedly had guns, spray paint, rappelling harness and book about taggers in vehicle

COURTESY PHOTO
State Sen. Karen Keiser will officially retire Dec. 10 from the Legislature after 29 years in office.
Process begins to replace retiring state Sen. Karen Keiser

33rd Legislative District Democrats will nominate candidates to King County Council

t
Kundert pleads not guilty in Kent cold case murder

Faces charge of strangling Dorothy Silzel, 30, in 1980 at her condo

Dave Upthegrove. COURTESY PHOTO
Upthegrove looks forward to role as state lands commissioner

Des Moines Democrat will leave King County Council after election victory

COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Kent School District levy passing after initially failing | Update

Nov. 12 results: Yes votes up by 602 with more ballots to be counted

File Photo
Kent Police arrest Texas man in 2013 sexual assault of 6-year-old girl

DNA match reportedly identifies 31-year-old man stationed in 2013 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord

Kent police investigate fatal two-vehicle collision

The collision killed a woman and left a 45-year-old Tacoma driver, suspected of intoxication at the time of the crash, hospitalized.

Competing for the 8th Congressional District: Carmen Goers, left, and Kim Schrier. COURTESY PHOTOS
Adam Smith and Kim Schrier will retain Congress seats | Election 2024

Smith represents the 9th Congressional District and Schrier represents the 8th Congressional District.

Courtesy of Democratic Caucus
Pictured left to right: Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D), Rep. David Hackney, and Rep. Steve Bergquist
Democratic incumbents in lead for 11th Legislative District

Bob Hasegawa, David Hackney and Steve Bergquist have strong leads, with Hasegawa and Hackney running unopposed.