EVERETT — An Arlington man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a suspected burglar.
Ryan Rzechula’s body was discovered Nov. 18 in a field near the Eagle Ridge neighborhood. Investigators believe that Keira Earhart shot Rzechula, 25, as he fled from a neighbor’s property two days before the slain man’s body was found.
Earhart, 38, suspected that Rzechula broke into his house and stole some jewelry, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Mara Rozzano wrote.
He was charged last week with second-degree murder. He is being held on $1 million bail.
Earhart called 911 Nov. 16 to report that he came home to find someone running from his house. He tried to chase the man but lost sight of him. Sheriff’s deputies tried to find the man but were unsuccessful.
Shortly after the deputy left the neighborhood Earhart called 911 again to report that the suspect had returned. The deputy found Earhart in a neighbor’s yard, carrying a gun.
Earhart told the deputy he spotted a man who he thought might be the person he saw running from his home earlier, Rozzano wrote. He said he’d fired three warning shots into the air and the person continued to run toward the woods, court papers said.
A neighbor told investigators he heard what sounded like gunfire and heard someone yell “Stop!” He said he saw a man running toward some trees. The man appeared to be limping, court papers said.
He told investigators it was clear the man was trying to run away from Earhart who was chasing him, Rozzano wrote.
Rzechula had been shot in the back. The bullet lodged in his heart.
Investigators found a box of jewelry in his pocket. The jewelry matched the description of the items that Earhart reported stolen from his home, court papers said.
Earhart is scheduled to go to trial in February.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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