Mercer Island murder suspects’ omnibus hearings continued to June

Published 2:30 pm Monday, April 27, 2026

For the ninth occurrence, the two defendants who pleaded not guilty to charges of the first-degree murder of a 74-year-old Mercer Island man in 2024 had their omnibus pre-trial hearings continued.

Island resident Curtis Engeland’s body was recovered in Cosmopolis on March 7, 2024. Suspects Christina Hardy and Philip Brewer were scheduled to have their omnibus hearings occur on April 23, 2026, in King County Superior Court in Seattle. They were charged with first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree identify theft and first-degree theft.

According to court documents filed on April 23, the court approved the continuances and the hearings are now scheduled to take place on June 4 with their trial dates slated for July 8. Both defendants remain in custody at the King County Correctional Facility in downtown Seattle. After they gave their pleas at their arraignments on May 6 and April 16, respectively, in 2024, they were held on $5 million bail each.

Brewer’s defense listed that his cause for continuance, as noted in court documents, is: Outstanding investigation, tracking with the co-defendant and the defense attorney will be out of the office until July 27. Before the next hearing, parties are asked to make their best efforts to interview witnesses.

In court documents, Hardy’s defense listed her reason for an omnibus continuance as: Continued investigation and negotiation and the state isn’t available until July 27 due to vacation schedules of both counsel. Before the next hearing, parties are inquired to strive to interview witnesses and review discovery.

Trial dates typically change if there’s a continuation to a pre-trial hearing, according to Casey McNerthney, director of communications of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.