Wanted murder suspect dead

By RYAN COLLINGWOOD

Hagadone News Network

HAUSER — The ex- fiance and lone suspect in the death of a 37-year-old nursing student killed himself Thursday afternoon.

Steven T. Denson, 61, Post Falls, was being sought on first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of Kelly A. Pease, of Coeur d’Alene.

According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Denson's vehicle was observed on Highway 53 near Hauser before deputies pursued him. Denson was found in his vehicle near 1100 Bruss Road with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The  woman Denson is accused of killing was the mother of five. Pease, who grew up in Bonners Ferry, was a North Idaho College student who arrived at Kootenai Health on Wednesday morning for her program's psychiatric rotation. At 2:45 p.m., a Kootenai Health employee found Pease's body, a gunshot wound to her head, in a parked car on the hospital's campus.

Just last month, Denson violated a no-contact order filed after he was charged with strangulation and domestic battery involving Pease in January.

The FBI and U.S. Marshals were also involved in the manhunt for Denson, a man accused of killing a woman friends described as selfless and hardworking.

Friend and former co-worker Misty Hoover can't understand why anyone would hurt Pease.

"She would give anybody the shirt off her back. She's a beautiful woman inside and out," Hoover told The Press. "She loves her kids so much and would always make sure they had everything they needed. When she would be down to her last dollar she would always find a way to make it happen.

"Kelly was an inspiration to me when it came to relationships. She would give me advice. I am so lost for words. It's so hard. I know her kids loved her so much and are in shock. My heart just breaks for all her friends, family, co-workers and especially her kids."

According to court records, Pease and Denson were engaged from June 2016 to January.

On Jan. 23, Denson, then an employee of a plumbing company, was accused of holding Pease down by her throat, ripping her pants off and proceeding to hit her.

"Steven pushed Kelly down on to a chair and began repeatedly and violently thrusting down on her stomach with his fist," according to a police report.

Denson was also accused of shattering Pease's phone and stealing $120 that night.

Pease had marks on her wrist, chest, stomach and neck, the report said. Denson was charged with attempted strangulation, domestic battery, petit theft and malicious injury to property. He was arrested but posted $10,000 bail and was ordered not to go near or contact Pease.

Not even two weeks after the incident, Denson broke the no-contact order by using a friend’s cellphone to text Pease. Denson claimed to be the phone's owner in the text conversation, according to a police report, and Pease called the police.

Denson was arrested for a violation of the order but posted the $2,500 bond.

On March 6, just two days before her murder, Pease posted on Facebook about domestic abuse.

"I refuse to perpetuate the cycle of domestic violence by exposing my children to it. I do not abuse... therefore I will not submit myself to abuse," Pease wrote.

Denson, who is 24 years older than Pease, also posted about the troubled relationship.

"...I know I have flaws and that's what I'm working on," Denson posted on Facebook on Feb. 25. "How come if someone's a drug addict or alcoholic most people will stand beside him when they're trying to get help? But if you're having issues in a relationship and you know you have issues and you're trying to get help for him how come they always decide it's easier just to walk away than stand beside the person."

On Thursday afternoon a few NIC nursing students met at a local bar and grill to remember their friend and classmate.

Kaycie Gibson of Post Falls, who was scheduled to graduate in December with Pease, recalls a woman on top of her studies.

"Kelly was a walking medical dictionary. You could ask her a question and she'd be able to answer," Gibson said. “She never hesitated when I asked her for help and she always told me, 'I'm rooting for you Kayc.' She was very caring and passionate about her nursing career and I hope to one day have as much passion and knowledge, just like her.”

Pease didn't show the signs of a domestic violence victim, Gibson said.

"I learned today that there are a lot of victims who hide their story, which could make or break someone's life," Gibson said. "Kelly was smart and did everything she could to get away from her abuser. He was just too selfish to let her go."

Pease's family has set up a donations webpage, www.gofundme.com/kwybw-kelly-peases-funeral, to help offset the costs of funeral expenses. Its goal is $15,000. It had already reached nearly $4,000 by Thursday afternoon.