The Sad Story of a Mother and Her Family

For nine months, women who are about to become mothers find ways to remember the feeling of carrying a child in their womb. Aside from selfies, some hire photographers to capture their baby bumps. In these photos, you can see women who are happy with the results of their photoshoots. Their happiness is largely due to the talent, skill, and good nature of the photographer, identified as Denis Ira Marcelo, also known as Ira—a 36-year-old Filipina.

Ira was born and raised in the Philippines before she migrated to the United States. She attended Central Kitsap High School and later graduated from college. In 2011, at age 25, she was hired as an Interior Assembly Mechanic at Boeing. There, she met Cambodian-American Makara So. The two hit it off and eventually got married, with their wedding attended by close friends and family. In the photos from the event, you can see how joyful Ira was.

As children of immigrants, both Ira and Makara shared a strong work ethic, knowing how hard their parents worked to give them a better life. They worked diligently to provide a comfortable future for the family they were planning. Makara’s hard work led to a promotion as a team leader at Boeing, where he managed a number of employees. After saving up enough, the couple happily moved to a home in Mill Creek, Everett—a quiet area in Washington state known for its safety and ideal conditions for raising a family.

For several years, Ira and Makara enjoyed their marriage. When not dining out, they would travel around Washington together. But like any couple, they faced challenges, though according to family, they resolved them quickly. After five years, their relationship grew even stronger with the birth of their son, Grayson.

If you’ve ever been a mother abroad, you know how hard it is to give birth far from family. But Ira overcame that challenge. While raising her child and working full-time, she also launched a small business called “Cupcakes by Ira.” Unfortunately, it didn’t thrive, and she had to close it. A year later, she didn’t give up—instead, she resigned from her stable job at Boeing to focus on her dreams. She posted a photo on social media announcing a new personal challenge: weight loss.

Her family, especially her husband, supported her. Just three months after her first post, people were surprised to see a slimmer, healthier, and glowing Ira. By New Year, she was full of hope that 2017 would be the year her dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur would come true. Inspired by Steve Jobs, Ira started her photography business from their garage. She cleaned and decorated the space and named it Ira Soak Images.

Despite having no formal education in photography, Ira’s talent shone. In November 2017, after registering her business and fixing up her garage studio, she turned to social media to offer maternity and baby photo shoots. At first, her clients were just family and friends. But when word spread about her exceptional photos, Ira’s business flourished.

After nearly three years, she saved enough money to purchase her own studio, which she joyfully announced in 2021. On January 2022, she held a grand opening, surrounded by friends and family, with her proud husband by her side. Their success allowed them to travel with their only son and provide him with everything he needed—often more. To outsiders, their life looked like the American Dream.

But in 2022, several police vehicles responded to their home in Everett. On August 19, 2022, at around 3:00 AM, Ira was found dead, shot inside her home. The shocking news spread quickly on social media. Friends, clients, and family mourned the loss of a kind mother, sister, wife, and photographer.

The autopsy confirmed Ira died from a gunshot wound—declared a homicide. Her story made headlines not only in the U.S. but in the Philippines too. People who knew her gathered at her studio in Mill Creek to grieve. Her husband couldn’t hold back his tears and anger, asking why this happened to them.

“I would never find someone like her. We will find justice for my wife. My wife, my love, my life, my best friend, my son… We’re good people.”

Friends, like Sarah Melle, promised to support Ira’s loved ones and fight for justice.

With few leads, detectives asked the public for help. A cousin started a GoFundMe campaign to support Ira’s seven-year-old son. Donations and testimonies poured in from those who knew Ira’s kindness. A month after her death, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office revealed what happened that morning.

According to Makara, three armed men broke into their home. He was tied up with zip ties, and when Ira resisted, one of the suspects shot her. The suspects then ransacked their home, stealing valuable items. Despite reviewing hours of CCTV footage and interviewing neighbors, investigators initially found no clear motive.

Some people online started to suspect Makara, but a person identifying as Ira’s sibling clarified that Makara was innocent. According to this sibling, the motive was robbery—many of Ira’s belongings were stolen. Ira had tried to stop the intruders, which may have led to her being shot.

One Reddit user suggested that Ira’s social media presence, where she shared her lifestyle and luxury items, may have made her a target. Others speculated her former cupcake business, which used her home address for pickup orders, may have exposed her location. Still, no major updates were provided as the family grieved privately.

On the first anniversary of Ira’s death, friends honored her at the Water Lantern Festival. As 2023 ended, there were still no public updates.

But in August 2024, nearly two years later, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office announced they had arrested Kevin Fizzle and Chris Johnson. The suspects were charged with:

First- and second-degree murder

First-degree kidnapping

First-degree burglary

First-degree robbery

Firearm theft and unlawful possession

The FBI confirmed that the suspects were part of a large criminal organization known for targeting homes between 2:00–5:00 AM. They wore disguises, sometimes impersonated police, used zip ties, and stole valuables. Shockingly, the FBI revealed that most of the group’s victims were Asians, whom they considered “less likely to fight back or report the crime.”

Between May and August 2022, the group was linked to seven home invasions in Washington. If convicted, the suspects may face life in prison.