The future of a three-count murder suspect remains unclear in Whitman County.

John Lee, a 29-year-old Moscow resident, faces three counts for first degree murder and one count for first degree attempted murder in Idaho. In Washington, he is charged for eluding the police. Lee allegedly killed three victims and injured one on Jan. 10. The dead include his adoptive mother, landlord and an Arby’s manager.

In order to extradite Lee to Idaho, the judge would have needed to secure a governor’s warrant prior to this morning’s hearing. With no warrant on file, prosecuting attorney Denis Tracy requested a delayed extradition hearing.

Tracy said that extradition provides that the suspect is held for up to thirty days, but the time period can be extended six additional days.

Defense attorney Steve Martonick agreed to reschedule the hearing on a later date.

Delaying the hearing will give additional time to receive the Governor’s warrant, which allows Lee to be extradited to Idaho, where he will be charged for murder.

“Judge (David) Frazier determined that Governor Inslee has issued the warrant, but it hasn’t been received in Colfax,” Tracy said.

The governor has the ability to overrule the extradition to Moscow, but the prosecution and judge are confident that he is in favor of transferring the defendant to Idaho, where he will face murder charges.

Tracy said the long holiday weekend may be to blame for the warrant’s absence, since the document is being sent through the mail.

Frazier has set the rescheduled extradition hearing to March 6 at 10:30 a.m.

Reporting by Ali Smith