Okanogan man confesses to killing Oroville woman, booked on first degree murder charges
Published 1:30 am Sunday, April 17, 2022
OROVILLE — An Okanogan man was arrested Saturday evening, April 16, for the murder of a 46-year-old Oroville woman in a domestic dispute, according to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office.
Roy Rasmussen, 70, Okanogan, was arrested on first degree murder charges, taken to the Okanogan County Sheriff’s office and later confessed, according to Sheriff Tony Hawley.
Deputies were called to the home of Siri Zosel after a concerned friend reported she had gone there to check up on Zosel, whom she had not heard from for awhile. She said Rasmussen had appeared defensive when she asked him questions, according to Hawley.
The friend “told her husband, who returned to [Zosel’s] residence and when he was able to get inside he observed Zosel lying on the floor,” said the sheriff, adding Rasmussen told the friend’s husband that Zosel had been deceased for about two days.
Rasmussen was said to be in a dating relationship with the deceased.
“On Saturday, April 16, 2022 at about 8:16 p.m., the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a domestic dispute on Westlake Road, Oroville. While deputies were responding they received information they may be responding to a homicide,” said Sheriff Hawley. “When Okanogan County Sheriff’s Deputies and Oroville Police arrived at about 8:31 p.m., they observed a deceased female in the residence along with two males.”
After deputies had checked the residence to be sure it was safe, medics from Lifeline Ambulance were able to enter the residence and confirmed the female was deceased.
Rasmussen was transported to the sheriff’s office to be interviewed by detectives, according to Hawley.
“In the interview, Rasmussen confessed to shooting Zosel,” the sheriff said.
Rasmussen has been booked into the Okanogan County Corrections Center for first degree murder. The Washington State Patrol Crime laboratory has been contacted to assist with evidence collection at the scene.
Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office 509-422-7232.
About Gary DeVon
Gary DeVon is the managing editor of the Okanogan Valley Gazette-Tribune and celebrated his 25th year at the newspaper in August 2012. He graduated from Gonzaga University with a degree in Communications - Print Journalism, with an emphasis in photojournalism. He is a proud alumnus of Oroville High School. His family first settled in Okanogan County in the late 1800s. His parents are Judy DeVon and the late Larry DeVon and he has two younger brothers - Dante and Michael. Many family members still call Oroville home. He has a grown daughter, Segornae Douglas and a young granddaughter, Erin.
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