Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Death of teen found in Lake Ballinger called homicide 10/28/08 • Seattle teen's slaying may have gang links 10/24/08 • Body ID'd as that of Seattle teen 10/23/08 • Woman's body found in Lake Ballinger 10/22/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 Suspect in teen's death held on $1 million bail By Jackson Holtz and Diana Hefley Herald Writers MOUNTLAKE TERRACE – A Seattle teenager likely was killed because she got sick in a car after drinking, angering her friends, according to a police report released today. An Edmonds man, Robert C. Langendoerfer 21, was arrested early this morning in connection with the killing of Britney Galindez. Police also said they are looking for a second suspect, identified as Mario “Pelon” Ibanez, 17. A judge today ordered Langendoerfer held on $1 million bail and ordered him not to have any contact with Ibanez and other witnesses in the case. Police said they want to talk to Ibanez, who they believe was present during the killing and is known to frequent the area along Highway 99 from Shoreline to south Everett. Galindez, 17, was last seen hanging out with friends on the night of Oct. 13, the police report said. The group allegedly was driving around drunk when Galindez threw up, witnesses told police. Six people were crammed into a Honda Accord, Mountlake Terrace police Sgt. Doug Hansen said. The group drove to Lake Ballinger to clean up the car and some of them went to the dock, the report said. That’s where Langendoerfer allegedly started to strangle Galindez and then stabbed her in the neck with a screwdriver, according to the report. Police believe Langendoerfer threw the teenager into the water, waded in after her and held her head under for about five minutes until she was dead, the report said. “In a moment of derangement, he strangled and stabbed her and threw her body in the lake,” Hansen said at a press conference today. Langendoerfer, a convicted felon with a long criminal history, allegedly told the witnesses he would kill them as well if they talked to police. Two witnesses told police the same account of the evening’s event, the police report said. Galindez was found dead in the lake Oct. 21. Hansen said Langendoerfer is well known to police throughout south Snohomish County. He was jailed Saturday by Everett police for investigation of first-degree malicious mischief. Everett police arrested him in connection with "tagging" or graffiti, found on buildings near Horizon Elementary, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said. The suspect was re-booked early this morning for investigation of first-degree murder. He is not cooperating with detectives, Hansen said. Police believe Galindez was a member of Vatos Locos 13, a criminal street gang. She was the only girl in the car the night she died and may have been the only member of her gang. The others in the car were members of another street gang, but not known rivals, Hansen said. Police do not believe the killing was the result of a gang dispute. Reached by phone earlier today, Daniel Bittick, Galindez’s step father, said he was relieved an arrest had been made. “I’m glad they caught him,” Bittick said. Anyone with information about Ibanez is asked to call Mountlake Terrace Police at 425-670-8260. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

1. Fire destroys Emory's restaurant 2. Man dies in apparent suicide on Edmonds beach 3. Camano Island burglaries spike: Is Colton back? 4. Storm dents Tulalip couple's retirement plan 5. For many cougars, it's one night only 6. Lulu the St. Bernard helps out with crossing guard job 7. Business Briefly: L.A. man gets prison for repackaging Boeing 737 plane parts 8. Sultan man charged with assault for firing at deputy 9. Peggy Pritchard Olson always put Edmonds first 10. Emory's blaze causes $2 million in damage 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Bazaar Fever • Hawks proud of historic season • Olson always put Edmonds first • ‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop • Mavs build early lead en route to easy win • Honoring student veterans • Tears of laughter, tears of grief • Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide • Edmonds gets education grant • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million