Moses Lake man sentenced to 16 years for strangling roommate

MOSES LAKE — Kyler Mathew Wortham, 35, of Moses Lake who admitted to strangling his roommate in 2025 has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to second‑degree murder – domestic violence. 

Wortham entered the plea in Grant County Superior Court and was sentenced on Feb. 18 to 195 months in prison for the killing of Kurt R. Volquardson, 61, last year. 

Moses Lake Police Department and Moses Lake Fire Department responded to an overdose call in the 1800 block of West Marina Drive on March 12, 2025. Wortham told responders he hadn’t seen his roommate, Volquardson, for three days. Volquardson was found deceased at the scene.  

Originally, Wortham said he had no role in the death and indicated he would speak with the lead detective the following day.  

The Grant County Coroner’s Office initially believed Volquardson had overdosed, according to the probable cause statement, but an autopsy revealed fractures to the “superior horns of the thyroid cartilage” and hemorrhaging in the surrounding tissue. A forensic pathologist said it occurred while the victim was still alive and was consistent with force applied to the neck, according to court documents.  

Wortham called MLPD the same evening and admitted to strangling the victim, three days prior. During the call, he admitted to struggling with methamphetamine usage. He said he had used drugs about two hours prior to calling the station. 

According to the probable cause statement, Wortham said he and Volquardson had a verbal argument over Volquardson using Wortham’s drugs. The argument ended, then several hours later, the homicide occurred. Wortham said he called police days after because “he felt like his body was going to explode and his mouth was really dry.”  

Officers then took Wortham for a medical evaluation at Samaritan Hospital and he was later booked into Grant County Jail for second-degree murder and second-degree assault, both with domestic violence designations. The state dismissed the second count of second-degree assault during sentencing.  

Wortham said he was under the influence of methamphetamine during the incident, but he does remember it, according to the probable cause statement.  

For those struggling with domestic violence, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24/7 and can be reached at 800-799-7233. New Hope is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 311 West Third Avenue in Moses Lake and can be reached at 509-764-8402.