Man kidnaps ex and says he’s going to ‘skin her alive’ before fatal crash, WA cops say
A 37-year-old man kidnapped his ex-girlfriend from a casino in Washington after he’s accused of threatening to “skin her alive,” troopers said.
He then led authorities on a chase that ended in a fiery crash in Lynnwood, killing an 83-year-old woman, troopers said.
The man kidnapped his now-35-year-old ex-girlfriend April 11 from the Tulalip Resort Casino, the Washington State Patrol said in an arrest report.
He was driving a 2005 GMC Sierra pickup that had been reported stolen out of Bothell on March 23, troopers said.
He had taken his ex-girlfriend’s phone the day before and used it to text someone “I broke her arm ... I’m beating her alive ... I’m going to skin her alive,” a deputy with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said in another probable cause statement.
Authorities track woman’s phone
A deputy had a warrant approved to track the woman’s cellphone after learning she had been kidnapped from the casino.
Authorities said they were then able to confirm she was in the vehicle with her ex-boyfriend.
However, he eluded deputies and officers with the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force, troopers said.
At one point, he got onto State Route 525, crossed over a grass median and began driving toward oncoming traffic, troopers said.
He drove southbound in the northbound traffic for less than a half-mile, swerving to miss two vehicles, troopers said.
Then he struck a 2004 GMC Yukon SUV head-on, killing the driver, 83-year-old Trudy Slanger, the Washington State Patrol said in a report.
Slanger was a mother to three children and grandmother to five grandchildren, according to her obituary.
“Known for her generous spirit and love for gatherings, Trudy was the life of every party,” her obituary says. “Trudy’s warmth, kindness, and infectious laughter touched the lives of all who knew her. She leaves behind a legacy of love and joy that will continue to inspire those who were fortunate enough to have known her.”
The man was taken to a hospital for serious injuries, and his ex-girlfriend broke her leg in the crash, troopers said.
He was arrested on multiple charges:
- Domestic violence assault in the fourth degree
- Domestic violence kidnapping in the first degree
- Second-degree murder
- Attempting to elude
- DUI
- Possession of a stolen vehicle
The man was also arrested on his warrants:
- First-degree assault with a weapon
- Possession of a controlled substance with intent
- Unlawful possession of a firearm
McClatchy News is not naming the man because he has not been formally charged yet.
Lynnwood is about a 15-mile drive north of Seattle.
This story was originally published April 26, 2024 at 12:40 PM with the headline "Man kidnaps ex and says he’s going to ‘skin her alive’ before fatal crash, WA cops say."
