EVERETT — Police have taken DNA samples from an Everett man suspected in an April stabbing death.
Detectives are trying to determine whether DNA taken from Derek Donnelly, 31, matches evidence recovered from the inside of a SUV where they believe Luis Verduzco, 21, was fatally stabbed, court papers show.
Verduzco’s body was discovered outside a vacant house on Madison Street in central Everett on April 24. Witnesses reported seeing the bloodied victim walking toward the area where his body eventually was located.
Donnelly, 31, is in the Whatcom County Jail after being arrested for shoplifting from a Bellingham mall.
He allegedly told a friend that he killed Verduzco, according to a search warrant filed in Everett District Court.
He reportedly told the acquaintance that a woman was driving the SUV with Verduzco in the front passenger seat and he was in the backseat.
He said that “he knew they were going to fight, and he would have to kill Luis,” according to court papers.
Donnelly alledgedly said the people in the vehicle used Mountain Dew to clean blood off the windshield.
The SUV later was discovered abandoned south of Everett and impounded. Police found two Mountain Dew bottles in the SUV as well as blood, a gallon water jug bottle and several items of clothing.
A witness told detectives that three suspects met up with Verduzco with plans to rob him of methamphetamine. They lured him to their vehicle under the ruse that they wanted to buy some drugs, according to court papers.
Murder charges were filed against two women, but were later dropped while detectives continue to investigate.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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