Nursing assistant arrested in Federal Way slaying

A 24-year-old nursing assistant has been arrested on suspicion of beating and strangling a 75-year-old woman after she left a Federal Way nursing home last month, and he will appear in a King County Jail courtroom today for a bail hearing.

The Kent man was arrested at his job at Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence on Thursday and booked into jail for investigation of first-degree murder and robbery in the death of Jane Britt, whose body was found in the trunk of her Mercedes-Benz in the center's parking lot March 19.

The arrest came moments after the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory notified Federal Way police that it had matched DNA found on Britt's body to the suspect, police Cmdr. Stan McCall said.

The man, who has no criminal history, had worked as a certified nursing assistant at the home for nearly a year. The Seattle Times does not normally name individuals before they are formally charged.

McCall said that after Britt's body was found, investigators collected DNA samples from several people who worked at the nursing home.

"We collected DNA from numerous people who had access to her during the time frame she was killed," McCall said.

He declined to say where the man's DNA was found on Britt.

McCall said he couldn't comment on a possible motive for the slaying.

He said several pieces of Britt's clothing appear to have been removed from her body.

Britt had been visiting the home regularly over the past two years to spend time with her husband, who suffers from Alzheimer's. On the night of her death, Britt left the building by herself, home officials said.

Marty Bol, executive director of the Alzheimer's center, said the suspect has worked for the company for nearly four years. A background check was performed before he was hired, Bol said.

Bol said the man's job performance has been "acceptable" and raised "no reason for alarm." The man was arrested without incident while at work, police said.

Nobody answered the door at the man's Kent apartment Friday.

According to state records, the man has been a certified nursing assistant since Jan. 23, 2005.

No complaints against him are on file, according to the state Department of Health.

On Friday, Britt's family released a statement saying: "We were shocked by the sudden and senseless crime that took the life of our beloved mom, grandmother, and great-grandmother ... .

"We too wait anxiously to learn why someone would choose to take the innocent life of our elegant, caring, and beloved Jane."

Seattle Times staff reporters Sonia Krishnan, Mike Berens and news researcher David Turim contributed to this report.

Jennifer Sullivan: 206-464-8294 or jensullivan@seattletimes.com