Chilling new details in Redmond teens’ alleged mom-murder plot

A Redmond teen and his girlfriend appeared in court Friday on attempted murder and other charges as prosecutors alleged the 17-year-olds plotted to use a baseball bat and pepper spray to kill the boy’s mom, then burn down the house with her body still inside.

Dakota Ortwein and Reyanne West were indicted this week by a Deschutes County grand jury on charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and arson, second-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon, said District Attorney John Hummel.

Prosecutors allege the pair conspired to kill Ortwein’s mother, then burn down her house with her body left inside.

They allege that on Thursday, May 19 th Ortwein hid in the house he shares with his mother. When she arrived home, he allegedly sprayed her in the face with pepper-spray and then began striking her on her head with a baseball bat.

Ortwein’s mother, who was “struck numerous times in her head, was able to wrestle the bat away from her son and call 911,” Hummel said in a news release.

Redmond police quickly responded to the scene and took Ortwein into custody.

“The allegations in this case are chilling and horrific,” Hummel said. “What causes a child to do this do his mother? My sympathies are with Ortwein and West’s families as they grapple with the reality of what these kids did.

“At the same time, I respect that Ortwein and West are presumed innocent and over the next few months will be presenting their side of this story,” the DA said. He also told NewsChannel 21 he could not divulge information about a possible motive for the alleged attack at this time.

Ortwein and West remain in custody at the Deschutes County Juvenile Detention Facility. The teens are due back in court on June 10 at 8:30 a..m. to enter pleas to the charges.