A Gillette man is in custody for allegedly stabbing his brother-in-law in the lobby of a Motel 6 in Clarkston, Washington, where the victim was working as a manager.
Thomas Krogman, 68, is accused of attempted first-degree murder of his wife’s brother, Daniel Henry, 72, who formerly lived in Wyoming.
Krogman was taken into custody Wednesday by the Gillette Police Department with about 25 officers responding, said Deputy Chief of Police Brent Wasson, adding that Krogman was apprehended without incident.
Krogman made his initial appearance Thursday afternoon before Campbell County Circuit Court Judge Paul Phillips.
He also declined to waive extradition to Washington and asked to remain in Wyoming and meet with his attorney.
When asked what he did for a living, Krogman said he was a “coach.”
The Campbell County School District did not return a call about whether or not Krogman was employed through the district. The Gillette News Record reports he was a former driver’s education instructor and coached multiple sports at Campbell County High School.
He’s being detained without bond at the Campbell County Detention Center pending an identification hearing scheduled for Tuesday.
If convicted, Krogman faces up to life in a Washington prison.
Don’t You Know Me?
The alleged murder charges stem back to Monday, when Krogman allegedly walked into the hotel lobby in Clarkston dressed all in black, according to the narrative filed in Asotin County Superior Court in Washington.
He was wearing a sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head with a black ballcap underneath as well as black pants and shoes.
Later when speaking to police, Henry said that Krogman approached him at the check-in counter and shook his hand before asking Henry if he remembered him.
“Not really,” Henry replied, to which Krogman allegedly said, “You don’t?”
When Henry again said he didn’t recognize him, Krogman reportedly pulled out a knife and began stabbing Henry in the head.
Video surveillance from the hotel lobby shows Krogman grabbing Henry’s head with his right arm and pulling him in close as he plunged a knife into Henry’s head with his left hand, according to the narrative.
Krogman is then allegedly seen pushing Henry to the ground and jumping on top of him as he continued stabbing him.
Then he gets up and heads to the door before briefly returning to grab the phone off the desk, rip the cord out of the wall and toss it on the ground, court documents state.
He then left the hotel and jogged across the street where he got into a maroon Chevrolet Malibu and drove off.
With no phone at his disposal, Henry walked outside calling out to co-worker for help, leaving a trail of blood.
Police were called and Henry was transported to the emergency room, where he was treated for eight nonfatal stab wounds to the cheek, chest and abdomen.
Technology Tracks Krogman To Gillette
When questioned by police if he recognized the perpetrator, Henry thought he might have been a guy named “Chris” who Henry had tossed out of the motel four or five years prior for drunken disorderliness.
At that time, he did not recognize his brother-in-law.
Technology, however, was able to identify Krogman through license plate readers in the neighboring city of Lewiston, Idaho.
Using the city’s Flock camera system, officers were able to match the vehicle leaving the scene — down to a sticker on the trunk — on video surveillance as it passed through Lewistown.
Gillette police were then notified and were able to provide Washington police with a photo of Krogman and watch his residence as police worked to verify Krogman as the suspect.
Putting The Pieces Together
Detectives then visited Henry in his hospital room to ask about Krogman.
He was married to Henry’s sister, Phyllis, Henry confirmed, and said it might have been Krogman who had attacked him.
When shown a photo of Krogman, Henry said, “It looks like him,” but the hoodie and hat made it hard to see his face fully, court documents state.
Henry hadn’t seen his brother-in-law in about six years, though a recent conversation with his sister began to make more sense, he told police.
Phyllis had called him twice May 31 and June 1 to ask for his address because she said she wanted to visit him, Henry said.
During the phone call, Phyllis also confronted him about an incident that happened 60 years ago, when he’d molested their other sister. Henry admitted it had happened but that he had made peace with the sister many years ago.
She told him she wanted to see him and planned to fly out soon, Henry said.
When asked again, Henry told police that he believed it was Krogman who allegedly attacked him, according to the narrative.
Jen Kocher can be reached at jen@cowboystatedaily.com.
