King County corrections officer killed in ax attack; estranged husband arrested

A King County corrections officer who was killed with an ax at her Pierce County farmhouse Friday night was divorcing her husband, whom she had described as violent and controlling.

Her adult daughter, who was severely injured in the same attack, was in critical condition Saturday evening at Harborview Medical Center.

The officer's 52-year-old husband was booked into jail at 4 a.m. Saturday on suspicion of murder and first-degree assault.

In January, the woman filed for divorce after a three-year marriage, according Pierce County Superior Court papers. In the divorce papers, she called her husband "both violent and very controlling," and feared he would harm her horse and other animals. He had slapped their Labrador puppies and thrown chairs before, she said.

The man said in a court reply that he has "extreme anxiety and depression problems," but does not abuse animals. He also said in the court filing that he had not held a steady job in the last two years, but earned $5,000 doing auto repairs.

He said he has been living in a motel.

The slain officer had worked within the living units at the King County Regional Justice Center in Kent, said Maj. William Hayes, the jail spokesperson.

"She was a very good officer, did her job very well, got along with everybody," said Hayes. "The department is very subdued; everybody's in shock right now."

King County sheriff officials are working with the family on a memorial, said Hayes.

The officer was among 539 corrections officers in the county.

The attacks happened in the 27200 block of 168th Ave. Ct. E. near Orting, where Pierce County sheriff deputies responded to a 911 call at 10:30 p.m. Friday from a man who said he had just assaulted his wife and stepdaughter.

A spray-painted message, on a building outside the green home, said "Sorry to my friends could not get help," according to footage from KING news.

The slain officer's 33-year-old daughter has worked at the Renton Police Department for seven years, according to patrol division commander Paul Cline. She was a specialist, doing front desk work and data entry.

The Pierce County Medical Examiner's office does not expect to release the deceased officer's name until Monday.

Mike Lindblom: 206-515-5631 or mlindblom@seattletimes.com

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