EVERETT — Detectives believe a Pierce County woman with a heart condition was assaulted by her boyfriend in an SUV outside a Tulalip casino, and that the man knew about her medical condition but chose to drive away as she pleaded for help.
The woman died two days later.
The allegations are part of a 10-page document written to establish probable cause for the Monday arrest of the Spanaway man, 33. He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of domestic violence second-degree murder.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office on Monday afternoon identified the woman as Hana Letoi, 35, of Tacoma. The cause and manner of her death were pending Monday, according to a news release.
Deputies with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office were called to the casino parking lot Friday evening.
“Help me, please help me,” the woman reportedly said.
Before losing consciousness, she allegedly said the suspect — her boyfriend of several years — ripped her pants and punched her.
Video allegedly shows the man grabbing the woman by the neck inside the casino during an argument.
Witnesses reported seeing their GMC Yukon “shaking from side to side” after they left the casino. Shortly afterward, the woman was left in the parking lot and eventually lost consciousness.
At the hospital, medical staff described “severe damage to her lungs, brain and windpipe with obvious bruising on both collarbones,” according to court papers.
A detective with the Major Crimes Unit wrote that it was obvious an assault occurred inside the SUV and that the assault “started into motion” the internal injuries to the medically fragile woman that led to her death.
The suspect knew about his girlfriend’s medical issues, including her use of blood thinners, but did not come to her aid, the detective wrote. Instead, the suspect drove eight miles to an Everett hotel, shaved off his beard to alter his appearance and only acknowledged the physical confrontation after he was threatened with arrest, according to court papers.
The suspect has previous felony convictions for illegal delivery of firearms, possessing a stolen vehicle, assault and attempting to elude police.
An Everett District Court judge on Monday set bail at $1 million.
Eric Stevick: stevick@heraldnet.com.
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