Philip Brewer and Christina Hardy: Duo arrested for defrauding and fatally poisoning elderly man

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA: King County, Washington authorities reported that an elderly man's funds were taken and he was tragically killed by a duo engaged in fraudulent activities. 

Following this, they temporarily lived in his residence, according to Law&Crime.

Law enforcement officials in Mercer Island revealed that they maintained discretion during their probe while seeking Curtis Engeland, 74, who was missing, and gathering proof against the culprits, Philip Brewer, 32, and Christina Joel Hardy, 47. 

The accused individuals were apprehended on Thursday, March 14, in Riverside, California.

What did the police say?

Police said that the male, Philip Brewer, and female, Christina Joel Hardy, acquainted themselves with Curtis Engeland several months ago and subsequently were involved in financial fraud against him. 

Additionally, law enforcement officers asserted that they suspect the fraudsters later confronted Engeland violently at his Mercer Island residence on the late evening of February 23, and used his vehicle to depart Mercer Island that same night.

Brewer and Hardy purportedly stole money, including $5,000 from the victim’s checking account and $6,200 from his home equity line of credit account.

During Engeland’s disappearance, the two allegedly lived in his home. They even brought Brewer’s son to live with them.

According to prosecutors, the defendants told investigators that Engeland had offered to rent out his basement to them for $500 a month.

What did Curtis Engeland’s siblings report?

Engeland's siblings told investigators they got messages that seemed to be from him, but they weren't sure if they were real. This is because he was a former English teacher and always wrote grammatically correct sentences.

The siblings disapproved of Brewer and Hardy's presence in Engeland's house. The family members were unaware of Engeland leaving the house or leasing out any part of his residence. 

Subsequently, the defendants vacated the premises, as per authorities.

Police found Curtis Engeland's remains

Police managed to locate Engeland's remains near Cosmopolis, Washington, by tracking the cell phone data of the defendants, Philip Brewer and Christina Joel Hardy. 

According to court documents, Engeland suffered blunt force trauma to his face, a stab wound in his neck, and had "a yet to be quantified amount of fentanyl in his system".

Philip Brewer and Christian Joel Hardy confessed to poisoning Curtis Engeland

On Thursday, March 14, law enforcement pulled over a man dating Hardy's daughter in California for speeding, who claimed to be fleeing from Hardy and Brewer after spending a few days with them in Blythe, Riverside County. 

Allegedly, the defendants discussed their involvement in Engeland's death and planned to "kidnap" Hardy's daughter to care of their children as they anticipated incarceration. 

He further said that Brewer and Hardy purportedly confessed to administering a fatal dose of fentanyl to Engeland and discussed disposing of his body. Engeland was still alive when they reached "the dump site" in Grays Harbor County. Brewer then stabbed him while Hardy restrained him.