Where Was Frieda Lopez Born, Chicago Airport Taxi Or Uber, Dr Pepper Brisket Pioneer Woman, Articles T

Shelly Knotek's mean streaks started early. Then, when Shelly was six, their mother seemingly abandoned them. Later, Sami Knotek would admit she thought Kathy Loreno's death was an accident, but she would say the mode of torture her mother used on Woodworth was the same as Loreno's, making Woodworth's death a purposeful act (via MEA Worldwide). When anyone asked about him, shed say he had recently called her and was happy in his new life. Navigation Menu Police, however, were never able to officially link Knotek to his death. Although the case received much attention when the crimes were uncovered in 2003, Shellys children Nikki, Sami, 41, and Tori, 30 want to remind people what a monster their mother is and to warn about her release. 1 of 30. In 1988, they took in their 13-year-old nephew Shane Watson after his parents couldnt look after him. Incredibly, Kathy stayed put for five years because she was so terrified of the consequences of trying to escape. At his wifes command, David Knotek burned Lorenos corpse, and together he and Shelly scattered the ashes. Theyd run away, she claimed, or moved to a different town for a new job. Unlike Ron, Kathys body was never located, but David later confessed that hed disposed of her remains. The oldest of three siblings, Knotek and her brothers lived with their mentally ill, alcoholic mother, Sharon, during their early years. Nikki, the eldest at 45 and also married with three children, now lives near Seattle, where she works in her husband's landscaping business, while Tori, the youngest at 31, lives in Colorado. Gregg Olsen/Thomas & Mercer PublishingKnotek sisters Tori, Nikki, and Sami, with their cousin, Shane Watson. The 30-year-old woman had fallen out with her family and moved in with Shelly, agreeing to babysit in exchange for free room and board. She and her brothers were raised by her father, Les Watson, and stepmother, Laura Stallings, after being abandoned by their biological mother, Sharon Watson, who was an alcoholic with mental problems. Like Loreno, the couple burned Shanes body in their yard and scattered his ashes over the water. For her, the abuse was unforgettable and unforgivable. we were glad Mom wasnt doing it to us.. "She was just the greatest person," Barnum recalled. Little is known about Woodworth and Watson. David Knotek's mother said she did not want to speak with the media, but expressed concern for her son and the six dogs and bird left behind at the couple's home. The only person in the home that Shelly didnt torture, at the time, was her infant daughter Tori. Shelly didnt allow him to use the bathroom, so he was instead forced to go outside. Shelly Knotek would make Watson and her daughters Nikki and Sami stand outside in temperatures below freezing and throw ice cold water onto them as a form of punishment. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, How a retired detective snared his seventh 'Torso Killer' confession, Expert reveals biological reason why were obsessed with true crime shows, Shocking new pic shows bruised and bloodied Gabby Petito after 'domestic incident', How Lori Vallow went from beauty pageant winner to being accused of murder, If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood, You could soon be able to rent H&M clothes, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Harry and Meghan hold the upper hand on King Charles coronation: Source, Hated Tom Sandoval addresses Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Kelly Osbourne posts first photo of baby son as he hangs out with uncle Jack, Undertaker transforms coffin into barbecue grill, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. In those same documents, however, David Knotek said he always feared that Watson would someday "go into a bar and spill all of the information about Kathy Loreno.". "I really don't.". During yesterday's hearing, David Knotek said little when he came into the courtroom and was told of the charges he will face later this week. Shanes body was burned, his ashes thrown into the ocean, just like Kathys. Ron was likewise dehumanized, stripped of his clothing, and his sores were treated with boiling water and bleach. Thomas & Mercer PublishingSerial killer Shelly Knotek was caught after her daughters Knotek sisters Nikki, Tori, and Sami turned her in. He refers to the public image Knotek built herself so that she could secretly abuse those under her roof. Following the murder, Shane showed Nikki photographs that hed taken of Kathy in her most dire moments Polaroid images showing her naked, black and blue, crawling on the floor, which he planned to take to the police. vycnievajuca hrudna kost support@missionbadlaav.com; closest city to glacier national park Menu. Shelly and David went on to have their own daughter, Tori, in 1989. While Tori Knotek was placed in her sister Samis custody, David Knotek confessed to shooting Watson and burying Woodworth five months later. Seattle PI reports that Loreno died at the age of 36, most likely due to the excessive abuse and injuries she'd endured. fear and loathing in las vegas adrenochrome scene. Tori doesn't remember as much as Nikki or Sami, most likely due to the age gap. The Knotek's crimes changed their children's lives forever, but they also changed the dynamic of their small town, removing the soft safety net and sense of security and replacing it with a subtle suspicion that follows its residents. Shelly Knotek was not in trouble she had accused her father of rape. Shelly Knotek's (far left) daughters, Tori (from left), Nikki and Sami -- who all claim to have been abused by their mom -- reported her to the police after she allegedly ordered the killing of. It was done in the exact same way. He didnt die from the two-storey fall, but it left him badly injured. At the time, Nikki and Sami had already moved out of the house, leaving only Tori. Her husband, 51-year-old David Knotek, was charged . Knotek had a childhood filled with trauma. On his research on the topic, Simon says manipulators will often appear harmless to those outside, even able to charm others into believing them infallible. If it weren't for the public's help, all three disappearances might still remain a mystery. nikki, sami tori knotek todaywhy is the witch of the waste so fat nikki, sami tori knotek today. All of the victims horrific fates lay undiscovered until 2003, when the Knotek girls bravely contacted the local sheriffs office and the horrors were finally revealed. Police investigated the Knotek property in 2003 and found Woodworths buried body. His wounds were treated with boiling water and bleach. There had been much earlier indications of psychopathic behaviour in Shelly. He was her 13-year-old nephew, Shane Watson. David Knotek eventually buried him in their yard, but it was Woodworths disappearance that led now-14-year-old Tori to realize what was really happening in her home. Shelly Knoteks first victim moved into her home in 1988. Her other brother, Chuck, never spoke for himself Shelly did all the talking. When Loreno had to abruptly leave her family, Knotek made herself available. If she ever turns up on my doorstep, Sami said, I can just see myself locking all my doors and barricading myself in the bathroom to call the police.. In his book "If You Tell," Gregg Olsen (via the New York Post) suggests Knotek is a psychopath, saying she shares similar traits with those diagnosed. Sign up and stay up to date with our daily newsletter. As her violence escalated, Shelly Knotek once pushed daughter Nikki Knotek's head through a glass window, later tending to the wounds herself while still blaming the young girl for the incident. By the time Knotek met the veteran, he was thought to be mentally ill, and, in 1999, he lost his home, landing him at the Knotek's doorstep. Knoteks daughters have cooperated in a damning new book, If You Tell about her. Like the others, it didnt take long for the abuse to start. Nikki, the eldest at 45 and also married with three children, now lives near Seattle, where she works in her husbands landscaping business, while Tori, the youngest at 31, lives in Colorado and works in social media. Shellys reign of terror took place in the rural town of Raymond, Wash. Then, in 2002, Shelly Knotek also took over the care of James McClintock, an 81-year-old retired merchant crewman who had reportedly willed Knotek his $140,000 estate once his black lab Sissy died. Following their brave call to the police and the discovery of Rons body buried on the Knotek property, Tori was removed from her parents custody and placed in the care of older sister Sami. The book centers on the experiences and survival of the daughters of Michelle Knotek, who was convicted of two murders but is guilty of much more than that. Shelly Knotek was found guilty in the deaths of Kathy Loreno and Rod Woodworth and sentenced to 22 years in prison. Employing her usual mental manipulation, Shelly initially love-bombed her friend before degrading her, drugging her with tranquilizers and withholding food. By all accounts, she had endured a difficult life. ucla environmental science graduate program; four elements to the doctrinal space superiority construct; woburn police scanner live. She was beaten to death.. When Shellys teenage nephew, Shane, came to live with the family in 1988, shed pressure him and 13-year-old Nikki to slow-dance in the living room while nude, per the book. He moved in with them because his father, Shellys brother, was imprisoned in jail. Knotek has since been convicted of her murder. She is responsible for the deaths of Kathy Loreno, Shane Watson, Mac McLintock, and Ron Woodworth. Historical Records*. That's when Kathy and her mother, Kaye Thomas, moved to Pacific County. . Michelle "Shelly" Knotek Shelly, mother to Nikki, Sami, and Tori, and the daughter of Les Watson and an alcoholic, unstable mother, regularly physically, verbally, and sexually abuses her children and manipulates anyone dependent on her care. Nikki, however, wont talk to him because of his role in her personal abuse. He showed Nikki the photos and told her his plan: He was going to show the police. "Never seen anything like this," said Cub Latta, a 66-year-old lifelong resident, sitting outside Ugly Ed's New & Used store. The pair had married in 1987, when Shelly was a two-time divorce with young daughters Nikki, 12, and Sami, nine. Five years later, in 1987, the couple married. In August 2003, Woodworth succumbed to the torture, and died. Eventually, she went to live with Stallings parents, but, unfortunately, she continued to try and ruin the lives of those around her. David even missed work a few times to go on fruitless searches for Shane, while the girls believed that their father was doing the best he could to find their cousin. Shelly (right), with her husband, Dave (left), allegedly coerced him into killing her nephew. Each of them is terrified of what will happen upon her expected release from prison, whether shell try to contact them or turn her attention to other pliable victims. Shelly Knotek called this ceremony "wallowing" and performed it multiple times during Watson's stay. Kathy Loreno, Shane Watson, Ron Woodsworth, and her husband David Knotek and children Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek: These are the names of just a few of the lives Shelly Knotek changed forever (from The Sun). The third daughter, who is 14, was removed from the home before police executed their search warrant and discovered the remains. From humiliating her step-daughters to eventually beating friends and hiding bodies, so says the New York Post, Knotek's story is a grotesque road filled with manipulation, degradation, and violence. The Knotek daughters lay out the abuse their cousin endured during this time in an interview with The Sun. The Messed Up Truth About Serial Killer Mom Shelly Knotek. Greg Olsen/Thomas & Mercer PublishingThe Knotek home in Raymond, Washington. They said Knotek had starved, drugged, and tortured her victims, forced guests to jump off the roof, drenched their open wounds in bleach, and made them drink urine. But Nikki, terrified of what might happen, told her mother about the photos. Soon after, Sissy would disappear, Knotek claiming she had passed away, only to allegedly turn up again in an animal shelter near town, as per The Seattle Times. "I don't know how they met," Jeff Loreno said yesterday from his home in California. But Loreno and Watson may never be found: David Knotek told police he burned their bodies and spread their ashes along a nearby beach, according to court documents. A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami, and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle's talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood.Until now. According to Meaww, the devoted stepfather worked hard to upkeep a nice lifestyle for the family and lavished the girls with love. In it, Nikki reveals to author Gregg Olsen how the familys enforced code of silence led to the deaths of two others: Shellys nephew, Shane Watson, 19, and her 57-year-old friend, Ron Woodworth. I think she meant to abuse Kathy, just like she abused us. By then, Sami and Nikki had moved out, leaving just Tori at the home. The children were aware of the abuse and live with the regret of not intervening but admit there was little they could do. So many things about this case were disgusting and shocking to me, says Gregg. David later burned Kathys body using accelerants and metal sheeting. But soon he was so dehumanized by Shelly who confiscated his clothes and labeled him useless that he gave in to her demands to drink his own urine. From a tragic childhood to her later equally tragic adulthood, Shelly Kotek's life lays out like one of the stars with blimps of important moments lain out to configure its own gruesome constellation. Nikki and Sami are now in their mid-40s, living in Seattle. The girls would go on to take David's last name, and, two years later, in 1989, baby Tori Knotek was born, completing the now infamous Knotek family. Knotek took to torturing Watson almost immediately. According to the Seattle Times, gossip flies fast in Raymond, Washington, and it wasn't long until everyone in town knew of the horrors Shelly Knotek had enacted. David Knotek said he shot Watson with a .22-caliber rifle, but he says the shooting occurred during a struggle over the gun, according to court documents. By this time, 14-year-old Tori was the only sister still living at the family home and told Nikki and Sami then in their 20s and living in different parts of Washington State that Ron had vanished. Knotek sisters Nikki and Sami are now in their mid-40s and both live in Seattle while their sister Tori needed a change of scenery and moved to Colorado. #1 New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen's shocking and empowering true-crime story of three sisters determined to survive their mother's house of horrors. Sami and Tori have gone on record saying that, despite everything, they do forgive their father, whom they consider to be just another of Michelle Knoteks vicctims. Loreno, David Knotek told investigators, had been very ill and died from choking on her own vomit. Shelly Knotek hid Woordworths corpse in the freezer, telling his friends that he had gotten a job in Tacoma. Knotek sisters Tori, Nikki, and Sami, with their cousin, Shane Watson. According toThe Seattle Times, Woodworth had a successful life as a Californian Vietnam War veteran with an expertise in Egyptology and an education from the University of California at Berkeley. Loreno would stay with the Knoteks for five years, enduring the torture enacted by Shelly Knotek and the complicit David Knotek. In 2018, David Knotek was paroled and reached out to his daughters to ask for forgiveness. #1 New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen's shocking and empowering true-crime story of three sisters determined to survive their mother's house of horrors. thestar. That release, however, was denied, leaving Michelle locked behind bars until 2025. They get together several times a year near Nikki's home in Seattle, but none have contact with their mother. The remains of Kathy Loreno and Shane Watson have never been found. Paroled in 2018, David Knotek has been forgiven by his children. Then, learn about prolific serial killers most people have never heard of. On the surface, they were the average, small-town family. Less than two weeks ago, a witness came forward with information that allowed deputies to serve the search warrant on the Knoteks' property, Didion said. ), Hearst Foundations award Seattle Art Museum with $250,000 grant, Hearst Foundations award two Wash. orgs with $175,000 in grants, Two popular Seattle parks will close early this summer, city says, Most calls made to Seattle police are for noncriminal activity, Home in local architect's family since the 60s is on sale for $3M, Here's when to see Sunday's 'super flower blood moon' in Seattle. The Disturbing Story Of Shelly Knotek, The Serial Killer Mom Who Brutalized Her Own Family. If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen is narrative nonfiction true crime book published in 2019. Wicked Attraction examines the case of Michelle and David Knotek lure guests to their Washington boardinghouse in order to murder them. churchill lake vernon bc. She had a caring husband by her side and was raising her three daughters in a home in rural Raymond, Washington. But it went beyond mere childhood bickering, Stallings later said. Tori, then 14, was removed by Child Protective Services while the property was searched. [If] Mom was punishing Kathy, she was ignoring us, Nikki said. David Knotek returned home and buried Woodworth July 25, he said. We've received your submission. After news of their mother's early release from prison, Sami, Nikki, and Tori Knotek spoke out against the master manipulator in any interview they could get, even signing on with Gregg Olsen to write the book on their mother in hopes his writings would both warn and educate the public. Shelly Knotek married David Knotek in 1987 and brought to her new marriage her daughters from a previous relationship, 9-year-old Sami and 12-year-old Nikki, according to MEA Worldwide. At the same time, Shelly continued to estrange him from his friends and family. Shelly Knotek married David Knotek in 1987 and brought to her new marriage her daughters from a previous relationship, 9-year-old Sami and 12-year-old Nikki, according to MEA Worldwide. RAYMOND -- Here, in a town once full of taverns and timber workers, everyone, it seems, knows everybody. Sami and Nikki are married and have three children each. I really did. When David came into their lives, after meeting Shelly in a bar in April 1982, he considered her the most beautiful girl hed ever seen, writes Gregg. This cruel and very unusual punishment would later drive Watson to document the horrors he saw and experienced while living with the Knoteks. In February 1995, Shelly became convinced the 19-year-old was going to rat them out after Nikki had told her that he had photos documenting Kathys abuse. They contend all three -- Ronald Woodworth, 57; Shane Watson, 19; and Kathy Loreno, 36 -- were killed by the Knoteks. Look what you made me do, was Shellys response, per If You Tell, as blood dripped from her daughters face and body. Once, Shelly shoved Nikkis head through a glass door. The young teen quickly discovered a heap of Rons possessions, including bloody bandages in an outhouse, and finally the sisters gathered the courage to go to the authorities. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Shelly is scheduled for early release into the public in 2022 after serving 19 years in prison for second-degree murder and manslaughter, David would turn a blind eye to Shelly's violence, Sami back at the house of horrors in 2018, Shelly would invite people to stay at her house - before torturing and killing them. She was only 19 when her father died -- electrocuted on the set of a movie he was helping film. Its out there and its happening. She . They say Michelle Knotek found the photograph and beat Watson. In March 1969, 14-year-old Shelly showed what she was truly capable of. . Knotek assured anyone who asked that Loreno had simply started a new life elsewhere. Unfortunately, that would later change. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Both disappeared at about the same time, too. But its only now, upon publication of If You Tell by New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen and interviews with the Knotek girls, that the abhorrent truth about what happened in the family home has been detailed in full. nikki, sami tori knotek today nikki, sami tori knotek today on January 19, 2023 on January 19, 2023 Nikki was born in 1974 and Sami in 1978. Kathy, according to Nikki, experienced all kinds of torture, to the point of her hands and legs being duct-taped while the bleach was poured all over her open sores. Living on skid row. He was charged with second-degree murder for shooting Watson. Shellys third victim, Ron Woodworth, 57, was another friend who boarded with the family in 1999. Along with wanting to warn others about their mother, Sami and her sisters hope people will take courage from their story of survival. All rights reserved. If anyone asked, Shelly Knotek simply explained Loreno had run off with her lover. But Loreno would soon discover, as many others had before her, that Michelle Knoteks mask was quick to come off. David and Shelly Knotek's youngest daughter, Tori, was only 14 and still living at home when a new guest arrived: Ron Woodworth, a gay 57-year-old veteran with a sharp wit and a substance abuse problem. While he remains in contact with his biological daughter Tori, his elder stepdaughter Nikki can neither forgive nor forget the role he played in what happened behind the closed doors of the Knotek home. Before justice found them, the Knoteks took one more victim: Shelly Knoteks friend Ron Woodworth, who moved in in 1999. Such retribution was imposed for perceived slights such as visiting the bathroom without asking. Dave, a logger and contactor, was working on an island 160 miles from Raymond. Their wallowing also frequently included being caged in a dog kennel. He was charged, but didn't appear for hearings. Is if you tell based on a true story? The reason why my mom was able to control Dave was because while I love him hes just a very weak man, Sami Knotek reported. This is the trap that Loreno fell into, according to Olsen. For example, each was made to do chores outside wearing only underwear, and to jump from heights onto hard gravel, injuring their feet. Previous Pause Next. Her daughters Sami, Nikki, and Tori Knotek have been very outspoken about their reluctance to see their mother released from prison. Taking a look at her history, clues pop up here and there as to the state of her psyche and may help to explain, though certainly not excuse Shelly Knotek's behavior. But then, those guests began to disappear. She liked the power, she liked doing it, and it got worse and worse.. Instead, Shelly and Dave burned the corpse in their backyard and disposed of the ashes in the Pacific Ocean. This is exactly the kind of behavior reported by David and his daughters. I kept thinking: Why would somebody ever treat and punish another in this way? It was so heavy and shocking.. Howevercourt files for State v. Knotek indicate that Shelly ultimately entered an Alford plea, which essentially means she maintained her innocence while recognizing a jury would likely find her guilty, notes The Seattle Times. He admitted to inventing cover-up stories with his wife, according to the Sheriff's Office. "Everything was a big drama with her," said Stallings. Shane, however, recognized the true horrors in his environment, which is why, in February 1995, he made a plan to get out. Other forms of abuse and degradation included putting Watson and Nikki Knotek into compromising positions, like dancing naked. In May, Loreno's mother placed a small item in the Willapa Harbor Herald, with a picture of her daughter, asking the public for any clues. Both Knoteks accepted plea deals for lesser charges, including a rare Alford plea by Shelly, which allows a defendant to plead guilty while simultaneously asserting innocence and prevented a revelatory trial, where the extent of the atrocities would be aired in public. As the case unfolds, the couple could face additional charges, and authorities haven't ruled out the possibility there may be more victims. Pennywise.. The University of Colorado at Boulder and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden today named Michael L. Knotek as director of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, or RASEI. Gregg Olsen/Thomas & Mercer PublishingSami Knotek and Shane Watson. As for Watson, authorities believe he photographed Loreno's injuries. Today, all three of the Knotek daughters are alive and well. (The photos were never found.). Shelly Knotek began caring for an older man by the name of James McClintock. (Editor's note: The original version of this story contained references to driving offenses that are actually on the record of a different Michelle Knotek who lives in Sequim. Dave, now 66, was paroled in 2018 after serving 15 years. I didnt want Shell in trouble. I didnt know what to do.. biloxi marsh fishing map; is vaseline good for diabetic feet; yaya vape flavors; profar name origin; is mitch robinson indigenous Shelly Knotek's (far left) daughters, Tori (from left), Nikki and Sami -- who all claim to have been abused by their mom -- reported her to the police after she allegedly ordered the killing of . According to All That's Interesting, shortly after he moved in, Knotek began telling Woodworth he was lazy and good for nothing, reports The Sun. Last night, three of the four people declined to comment. #1 New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen's shocking and empowering true-crime story of three sisters determined to Prolific true-crime author and novelist Gregg Olsen takes a different approach in his latest effort, IF YOU TELL. Copyright IBTimes 2023. The abuse progressively worsened until Kathy was forced to work naked, fed sedatives, made to sleep next to the boiler in the basement and even ride in the boot of the family car. The girls are apparently between 13 and 16. Her older sisters had moved out by this time, but when Tori told them what she believed had happened, they urged her to gather Woodworths belongings so they could make their case to the authorities. Kaye Thomas was just trying to do what was best for her daughter. She knew what the outcome would be.. She persuaded Dave to shoot Shane in a shed on the property, again burning the body and throwing the ashes into the ocean. David was released from prison in 2016 after serving 13 years for second-degree murder, unlawful disposal of human remains and rendering criminal assistance. Authorities say David Knotek told police he shot Shane Watson after Watson documented the abuse suffered by Loreno. He served 13 years. "He was living a different lifestyle than the folks around here," said the neighbor, who admitted that she didn't know Woodworth that well and didn't want her name used. This harm-then-charm mode of operations is a typical characteristic of a manipulator's interactions with others, says Dr. George Simon. After more than a decade, when sisters Nikki, Sami and Tori Knotek hear the word mom, it claws like an eagle's talons, triggering memories that have been their secret since childhood. In 2003, Woodworth passed away due to fatal injuries after having been forced to jump off a building and having bleach and boiling water poured into his wounds. Ron died of his wounds in August 2003. Police charged Shelly with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Kathy and Ron. She died locked in the Knotek's laundry room, and Shelly and David burned her body and tossed her ashes. She was just 6 years old when she and her brothers moved in with her father, and Stallins told Olsen she was told every day by her new step-daughter that she hated her. Woodworth was known around town as a "strange" man who had several brushes with the law. After their conviction, her nodding dog of a husband is said to be a changed man. Post author: Post published: July 1, 2022 Post category: i 15 accident st george utah today Post comments: who wrote methrone loving each other for life who wrote methrone loving each other for life David treated his stepdaughters like his own from the beginning, working hard to ensure the girls had everything they wanted. The swarmed and stabbed him and he died in hospital. She used to chop up bits of glass and put them in the bottom of [the kids] boots and shoes. Shelly had a cover story for Shanes disappearance, telling her daughters who adored their cousin that he had run off to become a fisherman in Alaska. Olsen said of the three women: They feel its their duty to expose their mothers true nature as a predator.. She forced her to sleep in the boiler room, took her clothes and made her work naked. For other inquiries, Contact Us. This story has been shared 129,285 times. Her mother, however, is not capable of guilt, she adds. David Knotek, 51, and Michelle, 49, are each being held on $2 million bail for investigation of first-degree murder in Loreno's disappearance. Not until David Knotek told sheriff's deputies that he and his wife, Michelle, befriended those down on their luck, subjected them to painful and humiliating abuse and disposed of three bodies after they had died.