EVERETT — Detectives have found clear evidence of homicide in the death of a 69-year-old south Everett woman found in her home Wednesday. He
r hands were duct-taped in front of her and a bloody pillow was found wrapped around her head, according to search warrants filed Thursday.
A police affidavit used to obtain search warrants said there is probable cause to believe first-degree murder had been committed.
The victim, identified in court papers as Leslie Pedersen, was discovered by her daughter late Wednesday morning.
The woman was found in her home at the Mobile Country Club in the 1400 block of 84th Street SE. The sprawling mobile home community provides housing for people 55 and older.
Found near her body was a sword in a sheath.
Formal identification of the victim and the cause and manner of death will be released by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.
It was not immediately clear how she died, according to a search warrant.
“It was unknown how the victim was killed, as no injuries were observed so anything could be the weapon used if one was used,” police wrote in court papers.
As of Thursday afternoon, police were not aware of any other victims in the case, Goetz said.
The woman’s husband is missing, court papers said.
No motive or suspect has been identified, Goetz said.
A relative told police the woman’s stepson and his girlfriend were seen visiting the home over the weekend. The stepson recently had been released from prison, according to the search warrant.
Investigators on Thursday night were looking for a car that went missing from the home, Goetz said.
They are asking people to call 911 if they spot a 2010 black Jeep Patriot with a Washington license plate of ABZ7996. The front license plate had been replaced with a Marine Corps decorative plate.
Goetz couldn’t say how the Jeep is connected to the case.
“We’d like to know whether or not it has a connection, that’s why we want to find it,” he said.
At the victim’s home, detectives seized several items including paperwork, a computer tower, photographs, duct tape, cigarette butts, a sword and knives.
They took a pistol, crossbow, water bottle, five knives and other items from a storage unit on Evergreen Way.
A witness reported seeing the victim’s husband and another man drive away from the home over the weekend.
The victim and her husband recently had moved to Everett from Arlington, her daughter told police.
The victim’s daughter tried to call her on Tuesday but got no response. That evening, she and her sister drove by the home and found the car gone.
The daughter showed up on Wednesday and discovered her mother’s body.
Anyone with information that might help detectives can call 911 or the Everett Police Department tip line at 425-257–8450.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com
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