Woman who reportedly threatened neighbors found dead in duplex after fire

A Renton woman who reportedly had been threatening neighbors was found dead Monday evening after firefighters put out a blaze in her duplex. Around 7:45 p.m. Monday, police responded to a 911 call reporting that a woman, 52, was threatening her neighbors, who lived in the other half of the duplex, with a knife and a machete, said Renton police spokeswoman Penny Bartley.

The neighbors, a 22-year-old woman and her 4-year-old son, ran to another house and called 911, Bartley said.

The older woman returned to her own duplex and would not come out when police officers arrived, Bartley said.

Then, the duplex erupted in flames, Bartley said.

Police broke a window and created an escape route for the woman, because the doors were blocked by flames, she said.

After firefighters put out the blaze, the woman was found dead inside, Bartley said.

Fire officials said the deceased woman's half of the duplex was a total loss.

Bartley said all indications are that the woman started the fire, but the cause will not be certain until after an investigation.

Police had been at duplex, in the 600 block of Northeast Sixth Place, previously on similar calls involving a woman with a knife, Bartley said.

Noelene Clark: 206-464-2321 or nclark@seattletimes.com