Charges issued for suspect in Milton-Freewater shooting

George W. Craigen, jailed in Walla Walla, will face a dozen charges connected to the death of Cecil 'Rob' Carter.

PENDLETON -- A Umatilla County Grand Jury heard testimony Tuesday from five witnesses regarding the slaying of Cecil "Rob" Carter.

George W. Craigen allegedly shot Carter at his plumbing shop in Milton-Freewater on Dec. 30 and fled the scene, triggering a multiday manhunt. Craigen was out on bail at the time of the shooting and was scheduled to appear in court that morning.

The grand jury issued a true bill on 12 charges against Craigen, including nine felony charges ranging from murder with a firearm to five counts of unlawful possession of a destructive device.

"In essence it's possession of an explosive," Umatilla County District Attorney Dan Primus said today.

Meanwhile, Craigen will remain in the Walla Walla County Jail and he is refusing to waive extradition, according to Primus. That will trigger a formal extradition process requiring signatures from the governors of Washington and Oregon.

"We're still in the middle of the extradition process," Primus said.

Primus added a trail date will not be set until after Craigen has been extradited.

"He still has not been arraigned in our court yet," Primus said.

Craigen will face one count each of murder with a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a firearm with obliterated serial numbers.

He will also face five counts of unlawful possession of a destructive device and three counts of reckless endangering another person.

Luke Hegdal can be reached at lukehegdal@wwub.com or 526-8326.

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