CALDWELL -- The man accused of killing his former landlord is now formally charged with first-degree murder.
Fifty-year-old Theodore Kestner of Caldwell appeared in a Canyon County courtroom Thursday afternoon, three days after police arrested him in eastern Oregon.
A Caldwell Police officer says that Kestner told him just about everything, laying out how he killed Jennifer Kirkpatrick, and even how he took an Oregon couple hostage.
Kestner said very little during the three-minute hearing as he learned he faces a murder charge.
Earlier this week, he was more open, as Sgt. Myron Kershaw interviewed him while still in the Malheur County Jail. During that interview Kershaw says Kestner told him that he tried to take his own life minutes before Jennifer Kirkpatrick died.
"He said he was going to kill himself and hang himself with that red strap in the back near the tree, next to his trailer," said Kershaw.
When that didn't work Kestner became angry.
"He said he went into kind of a fit of rage," said Kershaw.
Here's what Kershaw says Kestner told him happened next.
After his attempted suicide, Kestner went to a tool box in his truck and pulled out several zip ties. He tied them together in a circle large enough to fit over Kirkpatrick's head.
He then took off his shoes - not wanting a squeaky floor to give himself away. Kestner found her in her bedroom. When she saw him she screamed.
"At that time Mr. Kestner put his hand over her mouth to stop her from screaming and she attempted to bite him," said Kershaw.
Kershaw then says that Kestner told him he then put her in a choke hold and slipped the zip ties over her head.
"He zipped them down and she passed out or died and he put a pillow over her head so he wouldn't look at her face," said Kershaw.
It wasn't until later the night of September 1st that Kirkpatrick’s son found her dead.
Days later, Kestner popped up in eastern Oregon. An unsuspecting man tried to help Kestner who claimed to be hurt and in trouble.
"At that time Mr. Kestner grabbed him, pulled him down on the ground, wrestled him shortly where he sat on him and got the shotgun from Mr. Holcomb," said Kershaw.
Holcomb led Kestner to his cabin and his wife, where they say he confessed to murder.
"Mr. Kestner said to Mr. Holcomb that he killed his girlfriend is what he said at the time," said Kershaw.
Kestner later let the couple go after they encouraged him to turn himself in to police.
He is currently in the Canyon County Jail and scheduled to return to court on September 16.
While in court Kestner was not wearing the standard orange jump suit. The jail did not provide give further detail as to the purpose of the suit, but we've learned it looks similar to a suit used for people on suicide watch.
Kestner still faces a handful of charges in Malheur County, Oregon, related to what happened before his arrest there. The prosecutor says he'll wait to file charges until after Kestner's trial in Canyon County is complete.
