FEDERAL WAY, WA – Neighbors in a quiet residential area south of Seattle are reeling after a 35-year-old man was charged in the deaths of his parents, found strangled in their home late last week.
Mick Carmichael, currently being held in the King County jail, faces two counts of second-degree murder following the deaths of 69-year-old Grace Carmichael and 68-year-old Gregory Carmichael. The shocking scene unfolded over the course of Wednesday night into Thursday, according to authorities.
The investigation began when a coworker became concerned after Grace Carmichael failed to arrive at her job Thursday morning. Noticing her absence as highly unusual, the coworker contacted Federal Way police to request a welfare check.
Responding officers knocked at the family’s home on the 33700 block of 27th Place Southwest but received no answer. After peering through windows and failing to spot anything amiss, police contacted another family member for help.
When that relative arrived at the home, they reportedly encountered Mick Carmichael, who appeared unsettled but calm. He told the family member his parents were still in bed, suggesting it would be best not to wake them. Sensing something off, the family member entered the house after Mick left and discovered the bodies, prompting an immediate call to authorities.
Investigators believe a violent confrontation had broken out the previous night, culminating in both parents being strangled, apparently with a belt. Mick Carmichael is thought to have sustained some injuries during the struggle.
A manhunt for Carmichael began shortly after the discovery. Federal Way police issued an alert for residents to be vigilant. That afternoon, an officer spotted him at a nearby park, with what appeared to be blood on his hands and clothing, and visible cuts and bruises.
After his arrest, Carmichael reportedly denied speaking to his parents the previous day and was unable to explain how he received his injuries.
Court documents reveal a troubling history between Carmichael and his family. In 2021, he allegedly assaulted his mother and attempted to strangle his father during an argument, referring to his father as “the devil.” Charges related to domestic violence were reportedly filed against him as far back as 2015.
Beyond these allegations, the Carmichaels had sought legal protection from their son numerous times. Since 2009, a total of 10 protection orders have been filed in four separate cases, covering both parents and five additional individuals, according to court records.
The Federal Way Police Department continues to investigate, piecing together the events that led to the tragedy. Mick Carmichael remains in custody as the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reviews the evidence and prepares the next steps in the case.
No further details, including possible motives, have been released. The community, meanwhile, mourns the loss of two long-time residents as they await updates from law enforcement.