Renton woman sentenced to 15 years for killing son

By Jennifer Sullivan
Times Snohomish County bureau

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most e-mailed articles

Christiann Solomon, 40, "acted as a result of a serious mental disorder" when she killed Donny Solomon sometime between Oct. 18 and Oct. 19, 2002, said Snohomish County Public Defender Bill Jaquette. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder with a deadly weapon.

When police found Solomon in the motel room they discovered that Donny had been stabbed more than six times. Investigators also found that she had overdosed on a muscle relaxant and had cuts on her wrists and neck, according to court documents.

Marysville Police reported finding a kitchen knife, nine suicide notes allegedly written by Solomon and a bottle of muscle relaxant in the motel room. The letters, which were addressed to members of Solomon's family, expressed anger at her husband.

Solomon spent two days at an Everett hospital before she was arrested for the slaying. Since her arrest, Solomon has spent about six months undergoing mental evaluation at Western State Hospital.

Because Solomon will get credit for the jail time she has served, she will only spend about 13 and a half years in prison.

Jaquette said Solomon was overwhelmed with family pressures, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders. "We're not trying to shift the blame at all," Jaquette said. "She was motivated to help her son, the one she killed."

Jennifer Sullivan: 425-783-0604, or jensullivan@seattletimes.com

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

E-mail this article

Print this article

Search archive

More local news headlines...