Judge to look at slain boy's family history of domestic violence

Prosecutor chastises 'fishing expedition'

Grant County Superior Court Judge Ken Jorgensen will look at documented reports of domestic violence within the home of 13-year-old Ephrata murder victim Craig Sorger to determine whether they have relevance in the trial of his two accused killers.

And the attorney for Moses Lake 13-year-old Jake Eakin, who, along with 13-year-old Evan Savoie, will stand trial for the crime in September, is asking the judge to separate the two cases because he intends to argue Savoie committed the crime.

Jorgensen granted Tuesday afternoon the motion of Eakin's attorney, Alan White, to examine private Department of Social and Health Services documents detailing reports that Sorger's father, Chuck Sorger, was abusive to his mother, Lisa Sorger, and Craig himself as far back as 10 years ago.

White's request stems from documents that were released during the declination hearing of Savoie and Eakin, where Judge John Antosz determined the two boys should be tried as adults for the crime.

Randy Smith, lead attorney for Savoie, made a similar request for his client.

The most recent of the three charges included in White's motion occurred in 2002, when Craig Sorger's school contacted Child Protective Services on an allegation that Chuck Sorger had hit his son.

Lisa Sorger said in an interview that this allegation was later dismissed and did not happen. Both she and Chuck Sorger declined to comment on the matter.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ed Owens, who is trying the case, said these abuse allegations do not change his assertion that he believes Eakin and Savoie committed the crime.

"They're on a fishing expedition. There's no evidence whatsoever that leads to the parents," Owens said.

Craig Sorger, who was developmentally disabled, was found dead on Feb. 15, 2003, in a wooded enclave of Oasis Park in Ephrata. At the time, Chuck Sorger was out of town.

Craig Sorger was last seen with Savoie and Eakin, who had come to his house earlier in the day asking him to go for a walk in Oasis Park. He was severely beaten and stabbed dozens of times.

Police were unable to find any murder weapon. Earlier this year, investigators found a knife in the Oasis Park pond after receiving a tip from Eakin.

The motion to open up Department of Social Health Services records first arose two weeks ago during a pre-trial conference, but the state Attorney General's Office objected to a full release of the confidential documents.

The objection was dropped when Jorgensen said he would look at the documents privately, or in camera, in his chambers before deciding what may be released.

In an interview, White said more documents may point to someone other than his client who may have killed Craig Sorger, though he was reluctant to elaborate further.

In a motion to separate the trials of Savoie and Eakin, which was filed on July 12, White argued that more evidence exists against Savoie, who allegedly disposed of a bloody sweatshirt and allegedly washed blood from his skin in the pond.

White wrote that he fears Eakin cannot have a fair trial if tried with Savoie.

Attorney Smith could not be reached for comment before deadline. However, Savoie has denied killing Sorger since his arrest in February 2003, saying the blood found on his sweatshirt came from his checking Sorger's pulse after Savoie came upon his body.