Roseville PD arrest Skim X murder victim's son, ex-wife | Crime

ROSEVILLE, CA - The son of Skim X founder Christopher D. Northam was arrested Wednesday morning in connection with Northam's May 2011 murder and police said the motive was for financial gain.

Christopher Jon Michael Northam Jr., 25, of Sacramento was arrested on a warrant during a traffic stop, according to Roseville police.

"We definitely believe it was for financial gain," Roseville Police Lt. Mark Toupin said. "We also believe it was premeditated. There is an allegation of lying in wait".

Northam's father, Christopher Dale Northam, 44, was found shot to death on May 20, 2011 by Roseville police officers responding to a call of shots fired inside the Skim X, an extreme sports water park, building at 8292 Industrial Ave.

"We do have statements to the effect there was an argument going on between father and son," Toupin said. "As for the details of that argument, once again, we're not going to release those minute details at this point."

According to Toupin, Skim X was facing financial struggles.

"When we did an analysis of the case we determined that Christopher John Michael Northam Jr., our suspect, was at the scene of the crime on that day," Toupin said. "From the early onset  he gave us conflicting information as to what happened."

Investigators served search warrants at a number of financial institutions throughout the country, conducted surveillance and wire taps, according to Toupin.

"We had a number of potential suspects in this case and each one of them had to be talked to," said Toupin. "We had to corroborate their alibis and that took an incredibly long time."

Northam's ex-wife Averill Elizabeth Easley, 34, of Roseville was also arrested on a Placer County Superior Court warrant charging her as an accessory after the fact, said Roseville police spokeswoman Dee Dee Gunther.

Easley is suspected of giving "false and misleading" information to officers, resulting in the delay and obstruction of the investigation, Gunther said.

Northam was booked in the Placer County Jail without bail.

Easley was also arrested without incident in Roseville and is being held on $25,000 bail.

Easley and Northam Jr. are scheduled to appear in court on February 24.