Guest Staying At Idaho Motel Accused Of Double-Homicide Of Two Employees Found Dead In Main Office

A man from Washington allegedly fatally shot two workers at a motel he was staying at in Idaho, authorities said.

Around 12:45 p.m. on Oct. 1, authorities responded to a report of an active shooter at the Hartland Inn in New Meadows, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office said.

When officers arrived, they found two people dead from gunshot wounds inside the motel’s main office. The victims were later identified as Sara Mehen, 45, and Rory Mehen, 47.

Following an investigation into the deadly shooting, officers believe the suspected shooter was John Cody Hart, a 28-year-old Washington state man who was staying at the motel.

“Hart was observed leaving the scene in a blue, Subaru vehicle” and a “witness observed Hart’s vehicle traveling south on US Highway 95, south of Council,” the sheriff’s office said.

A deputy was able to locate Hart and lead other law enforcement officers to the suspect’s vehicle.

Police stopped Hart and he was taken into custody without incident. He was booked into the Washington County jail on two counts of first-degree murder, according to the sheriff.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to the families affected by this tragedy,” the sheriff’s office said.

Officials have not disclosed a possible motive for the shootings.