Suspect arrested in beating

Published 4:59 pm Thursday, July 22, 2010

SNOHOMISH — A Snohomish family has been living in fear ever since an early July attack that landed a woman, 22, in the hospital with a head injury.

The drama began early July 9, according to a police affidavit filed Tuesday in Everett District Court.

Someone was throwing rocks at the victim’s window around 2 a.m. The Snohomish woman found two women, a friend and stranger, at her front door.

The three started walking along a rural Snohomish road when the victim became suspicious, the court document said. She asked her friend if the walk was a setup.

“Actually, it is,” the friend allegedly said.

The two women started beating the victim, punching her in the face and head, the court document said. They reportedly were upset about comments the victim may have made about someone’s mother.

The victim screamed for help. None came.

Instead, two men drove up and joined in the beating. The victim was pushed into some bushes, the court document said. At one point, someone said, “Let’s go get her in the car.”

The victim told detectives she thought she was going to die, the court document said.

The next day, the victim’s mother tracked down one of the attackers at a Snohomish fast-food chain restaurant. When detectives investigated a few days later, they learned both suspects had worked at the restaurant but were fired when they didn’t show up for work.

The information led to the arrest Monday of a Lake Stevens woman, 21. The woman has a history of drug use and arrests, including a domestic violence assault, court records show.

She was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of second-degree assault and attempted first-degree kidnapping.

Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.