Bail set at $1 million in Federal Way slaying

A King County judge today set bail at $1 million for a 24-year-old nursing assistant who was arrested Thursday on suspicion of beating and strangling a 75-year-old woman after she left a Federal Way nursing home last month.

Joseph Njonge, of Kent, who has no criminal history, worked for nearly a year as a certified nursing assistant at Garden Terrace Alzheimer's Center of Excellence, where Jane Britt's body was found in the trunk of her car on March 19. She had visited her husband, who lives at the nursing home.

Njonge was arrested after the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory notified Federal Way police that it had matched his DNA to that found on Britt's body. He was booked in the King County Jail for investigation of first-degree murder and robbery.

Njonge is scheduled to return to King County Superior Court Tuesday, said Pro Tem Judge Karli Jorgensen.

According to court documents released today, Federal Way police said they found Njonge's DNA under Britt's fingernails. Investigators had collected DNA samples from several people who worked at the nursing home. Police also said Britt's husband's Costco card was found in Njonge's wallet.

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

Njonge was arrested without incident while at work on Thursday, police said.

State records show Njonge has been a certified nursing assistant since Jan. 23, 2005. No complaints against him are on file, according to the state Department of Health.

Melissa Allison: 206-464-3312 or mallison@seattletimes.com

Seattle Times staff reporter Jennifer Sullivan contributed to this report.