Wife of Pasco murder suspect accused of luring victim to scene

The wife of a Pasco murder suspect now is accused of getting the victim’s phone number hours before his death and later calling the man under the guise she wanted to hook up with him.

Mary A. Faucett, 26, set up Lorenzo R. Fernandez Jr. to be ambushed on Dec. 3, knowing that he would be shot dead by the end of the night, prosecutors allege.

Then, when meeting with Pasco police a month later, Faucett allegedly fabricated portions of her statements and withheld key facts. The interview was scheduled as part of a deal that would allow Faucett to avoid homicide charges if she cooperated.

On Tuesday, Faucett was in Franklin County Superior Court for a hearing on her first-degree rendering criminal assistance case.

She appeared surprised when prosecutors informed the court they were amending the case to include charges of conspiracy — a felony — and making false or misleading statements to a public servant — a gross misdemeanor.

Her attorney, Craig Stilwill, objected to the new charges, but entered innocent pleas on her behalf.

Her trial remains set for March 25 on all three counts.

Faucett has been out of jail since posting $25,000 bond. Judge Vic VanderSchoor gave her until Feb. 17 to post an additional $15,000 bail or she will be taken into custody.

Faucett lists a Spokane address. She previously said she lived in Pasco.

Faucett and her husband, Kenyatta K.E. Bridges, were arrested early Christmas Day in Spokane. She was wanted for allegedly helping both her husband and DeShawn I. Anderson during and after a series of gang-related shootings in Pasco.

The first shooting on Nov. 18 left three men injured as they sat in a car on West Margaret Street. Anderson, now 19, is suspected of being one of two men who fired almost 20 shots that night.

That investigation revealed the victims were associated with a street gang that had an ongoing feud with Anderson, court documents said.

Anthony Guerrero, 20, died the following night after he and two other men were shot inside a car on West Marie Street. Guerrero was Anderson’s friend. Anderson’s cousin also was an occupant and was injured.

Earlier documents have said Faucett and Bridges, 25, drove Anderson around Pasco while he showed the couple the homes of people he believed had been involved in shooting his friend and cousin. Faucett allegedly let Anderson hide out at her mother’s apartment, knowing he was sought by police for almost three weeks.

Fernandez’s slaying late Dec. 3 in the parking lot of the Stonegate Apartments complex is believed to have been in retaliation for the first shooting on Margaret Street.

Faucett, Bridges, Anderson and two other people saw Fernandez in Pasco earlier that day and followed him to a convenience store, according to a document filed Tuesday. At the store, Faucett made contact with Fernandez and got his number.

That night, Fernandez was at his parents’ house when he got a call and drove his Ford Mustang to the Road 68 complex. A witness reportedly told police the call was from a woman.

Fernandez was killed as he sat inside his car.

Prosecutors allege he was shot by Anderson, who matched the description of a person seen running from the parking lot with a gun. Shoe prints found in dirt at the scene also reportedly match the shoes Anderson was wearing at the time of his arrest.

After Fernandez’s death, Faucett traveled with Bridges and Anderson out of the area, allegedly to dispose of evidence, documents said.

Anderson, of Finley, has been charged with first-degree murder for Fernandez’s death and four counts of first-degree assault for the Nov. 18 shooting. His case is on hold while he undergoes an evaluation for concerns he may be developmentally disabled.

Bridges, of Kennewick, has a March 4 trial date on one count of first-degree murder.

This story was originally published February 10, 2015 at 9:10 PM with the headline "Wife of Pasco murder suspect accused of luring victim to scene."