Ephrata teen’s murder trial begins soon, years after slaying

EPHRATA, Wash. – An Ephrata teen accused of killing a 13-year-old playmate will stand trial in two weeks, more than three years after the slaying.

Evan Savoie, 15, is accused in the death of Craig Sorger, also of Ephrata, who was found beaten and stabbed to death Feb. 15, 2003, at a recreational vehicle park.

Defense attorneys for Savoie had alleged government misconduct because Sorger’s body was cremated before defense experts could examine it. Attorney Monty Hormel argued that a forensic expert for the defense could have found blood or wounds on Sorger that may have shown someone else killed him.

Grant County Superior Court Judge Ken Jorgensen ruled that the defense could not prove Savoie’s case would have been helped by doing their own examination of the body.

“Any evidence that may have been discovered may have aided the state as well as the defense,” Jorgensen said.

Jury selection for Savoie’s trial has been scheduled to start April 3, with opening arguments planned for April 10. The trial is expected to last about five weeks.

Savoie was one of two boys charged in Sorger’s death. Last April, Jake Eakin of Moses Lake pleaded guilty to complicity to second-degree murder. He was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison.

Eakin is expected to testify against Savoie.