EDMONDS — Police allege that an Edmonds man beat his girlfriend to death and left her body in their apartment for days.
He claimed she had fallen, but an autopsy showed multiple blows to the head and face, according to the arrest report.
David Hoar, 62, was jailed Wednesday night on suspicion of second-degree domestic-violence murder. A judge set bail Thursday at $1 million.
The name of the victim, 45, was not made public.
The couple lived at the Park Edmonds Apartments along 236th Street SW, Edmonds police Sgt. Josh McClure said.
Officers were called to the home Monday afternoon. Hoar was described as being “extremely intoxicated.” He said his girlfriend had died three days earlier after multiple falls in different parts of the apartment.
Hoar also said she may have overdosed.
Blood could be seen throughout the home, including on the bed, the bathroom floor and the refrigerator door, according to the report.
An autopsy on Wednesday revealed the extent and the nature of her injuries. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office determined she had been struck in the face and head at least five times with an unknown weapon. Some of her injuries were consistent with stomping.
“It is not likely that these injuries were caused by an accidental fall,” detectives wrote.
When they went back to the house Wednesday night, Hoar still was wearing his bloody clothes from Monday, they allege. He said he had argued with his girlfriend on Dec. 15 over chores and it had escalated, and “I just lost it.” Hoar denied any responsibility for her death.
“Detectives are requesting search warrants as part of their ongoing investigation,” McClure said.
Hoar was the subject of a domestic-violence protection order in 2009, court records show. A former roommate alleged that Hoar attacked him, repeatedly punched him and broke his rib.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; @rikkiking.
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