Family Says Man Accused Of Killing Grandma Isn't Capable Of Murder

Family members of a Washington County man accused of killing his grandmother are speaking out in support of the suspect.

Dewey police arrested 20-year-old Donald Shimko on Thursday.

But the suspect's family tells News On 6 they don’t believe Shimko is capable of murder.

“Hurting anybody would be the last thing I could imagine him even doing,” cousin Michelle Davis said.  

Davis has known Shimko his entire life.

“We call him 'Little D,’” she said.

The Donald she knows is happy and kind

“Funny kid, always outgoing,” she said. “Always kept a smile on my face. …He has a little sister and she's his world.”

The Donald she knows is not a killer.

“Never been in trouble. Ever,” she said. “Never been arrested. Never spent a night in jail. I mean, nothing, ever.”

But early Thursday morning, investigators say Shimko murdered his grandmother inside the mobile home where they lived.

Dewey Police Sgt. Tim Stringer says Shimko called 911 and asked for an ambulance around 4:30 a.m.

“He was calm,” Stringer said.

Investigators say they found 64-year-old Alvita Shimko in the living room, dead from blunt force trauma.

Stringer says her injuries were obvious.

It was determined the wounds could not be the result of a fall.

And on top of that, Stringer says they found the murder weapon but can't reveal yet what was used.

Investigators say the motive is not entirely clear, but say Shimko admitted in an interview that he killed his grandmother.

But his cousin just can't believe it, and she says his family supports him 100 percent.

“He's just the person that would hit on anybody, especially his grandma, a female, any female,” she said. “He's not the type that would beat on anybody.”