EVERETT — A manhunt was under way Tuesday for two suspects in the September killing of a 69-year-old Everett woman, and investigators say the two may be linked to Sunday’s disappearance of an Oregon teenager.
Police hav
e probable cause to arrest David Joseph Pedersen, 31, and Holly Ann Grigsby, 24, for investigation of first-degree murder, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said Tuesday.
The pair are being sought in connection with the death of Leslie Pedersen, who was found fatally stabbed Sept. 28. The male suspect is her husband’s son.
Leslie Pedersen’s husband, David “Red” Jones Pedersen, 56, is missing and considered in danger, Goetz said. The elder Pedersen hasn’t been seen or heard from since Sept. 26. According to court papers, he is a military veteran and has medical problems that would make it painful for him to ride in a car for long periods of time.
The younger Pedersen and Grigsby were last seen in Salem, Ore., Goetz said. They are considered armed and dangerous. Police said anyone who sees them should call 911.
Oregon State Police said Tuesday the two suspects in the Everett homicide are believed to have been driving a car connected to Cody Myers, 19. The Lafayette, Ore., teen was reported missing Sunday, the Associated Press reported. He never returned home from a trip to Newport, Ore. His car has since been spotted on gas station surveillance video, and a woman in the car was trying to use a stolen credit card.
Everett police are working with Oregon investigators, Goetz said. Detectives on Tuesday were heading to Oregon to follow up on leads.
“We have information that could potentially link the two incidents,” he said.
David Joseph Pedersen is described as white, 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds. He has hazel eyes and red hair, with extensive tattoos on his abdomen, arms and neck. He has a snowflake tattoo on his left cheek. Some of his tattoos feature racist “white power” themes.
He is a mixed martial arts fighter who has been defeated in each of his three professional bouts. The latest defeat came in mid-September less than 15 seconds after the bout began.
He served 11 years in federal prison for threatening a judge, according to a search warrant filed Tuesday in Snohomish County Superior Court. He also has multiple convictions for felony assault, one of which was against a police officer.
His last known address was in Oregon, according to court papers.
Grigsby, his girlfriend, is described as white, 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds. She has light brown hair and hazel eyes. She also has spent time in prison, according to the Associated Press.
Police also are looking for the Jeep that went missing from Leslie Pedersen’s home around the time of her death.
They ask people to call 911 if they spot a 2010 black Jeep Patriot with Washington license plate ABZ 7996. The front license plate had been replaced with a Marine Corps decorative plate.
A relative had told police that the younger Pedersen and Grigsby were seen visiting his father’s Everett home the weekend before Leslie Pedersen was found, according to court papers.
Pedersen also has an unrelated arrest warrant for a probation violation, Goetz said.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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