On August 9, 2024, a two-story A-frame cabin off State Route 530 near Concrete, Washington, burned in a fierce mid-morning blaze that destroyed the home. Recovery took several days, and investigators found three bodies in the charred remains: 19-year-old Taylor Dawson, his 52-year-old mother Erin Birman, and his 18-year-old girlfriend Jillian Whitney Van Boven. The Skagit County Coroner’s Office determined all three victims had suffered gunshot wounds that contributed to their deaths, and the case was ruled a homicide.

Authorities identified 49-year-old Jason M. Birman, Erin Birman’s husband and Taylor’s stepfather, as a suspect. Investigators believe he was at the residence in the time leading up to the fire. A warrant for three counts of second-degree murder was issued and Birman has been missing since the day of the fire, last seen with a 1994 blue Chevrolet pickup. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service and ATF, are involved and a combined reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.

Taylor was a 2023 graduate of Concrete High School who enjoyed riding dirt bikes, working at the Howard Miller Steelhead Park, barefoot hiking in the mountains with his girlfriend, and caring for his three dogs. Does anyone who knew Taylor or the family have information that could help investigators locate Jason Birman?