“SPOKANE COUNTY, September 16, 2015 – The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office is releasing the cause and manner of death of the individual who died September 15, 2015 on North Hamilton in Spokane County.
Name:Â Greg Ainley
Age:Â 57
Cause:Â Gunshot wounds
Manner:Â Homicide
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OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
Previous Release:
Major Crimes Detectives Investigating North County Homicide
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On Tuesday September 15th, 2015, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a welfare check in the 12600 block of North Hamilton in North Spokane County and discovered a deceased male with wounds to his chest and head. They contacted the victim’s roommate, 57-year-old Michael J. Prows, inside the residence and later arrested him for Murder in the 1st Degree.
Deputies responded to the residence after a call from the victim’s brother was received. The caller requested deputies respond and check the welfare of his brother because he had not heard from him for several days. The caller stated this was very unusual, and he had tried to call the victim several times, but the victim’s phone would go directly to voicemail. The caller stated he went to his brother’s residence and saw his brother’s roommate, Prows, but Prows would not answer the door. He said his brother and Prows both had developmental disabilities and he was very worried.
When deputies arrived, they made several attempts to contact someone at the front door. After a couple of minutes without receiving a response, they began checking the windows of the residence. Looking through one of the windows, Deputy Totman observed a male lying on a bed. The male did not appear to be breathing and would not respond to knocks on the window. Fearing the male was in immediate need of medical assistance, deputies made announcements and forced entry into the residence.
The male on the bed was not breathing and it appeared he had been there for several hours or days. He had a wound to his chest and one to his head. Deputies located Prows sitting in a chair in an upstairs living room. Prows would not respond at all to the deputies but was cooperative when he was detained in handcuffs.
Spokane County Major Crimes Detectives and Forensic Unit personnel were called to the scene and a search warrant was requested for the residence. Detectives were told by a member of the Prows family that Prows has a history of mental health illnesses in his past.
At one point, Prows became more alert and said he wanted to confess to shooting the victim. Prows made a statement but it is still unclear what exactly led up to this violent act. Prows was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Murder 1stDegree.
The Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the name of the victim, along with the cause and manner of death, at a later time when it is appropriate to do so.
This is still and active and ongoing investigation. No further information is available at this time.
Deputy Mark Gregory
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
Public Information Officer
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