Police searching for Jeep in Tulalip fatality

Published 11:06 pm Thursday, April 3, 2008

TULALIP — Police on Thursday were searching for the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee that struck and killed a Marysville woman early Wednesday on the Tulalip Indian Reservation.

Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives collected evidence at the scene that indicates the vehicle involved in the fatal hit-and-run is a 1992 to 1998 Grand Cherokee, spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.

Detectives don’t yet know the color of the Jeep, but it’s likely there is damage to the front passenger side, she said. Investigators emphasized they were looking for the Grand Cherokee model, as opposed to the smaller Jeep Cherokee.

Detectives received some telephone tips and are working to contact those callers, Hover said.

The Marysville woman, 58, was discovered about 6:40 a.m. lying in a grassy area between southbound I-5 and 34th Avenue NE. Sheriff’s detectives believe she was hit while walking north, with her back to traffic, on 34th Avenue NE near the east shoulder of the road.

The road parallels the freeway.

The woman likely was killed between 4:45 and 6:40 a.m. Wednesday. Anyone with information about the death is asked to call the sheriff’s tip line at 425-388-3845.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office finished the autopsy of the woman Thursday. Her name was being withheld until the medical examiner is able to confirm her identity through dental records or fingerprints and the woman’s family has been notified.

Detectives seized a motorcycle found parked south of where the woman was killed. Investigators now believe the motorcycle was not connected to the incident, Hover said Thursday.

Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.