Man arrested in death of Woodinville teacher

SEATTLE — A Seattle-area high school teacher has been killed, and Seattle police have arrested a 48-year-old man in connection with her death.

The King County medical examiner’s office says 55-year-old Prudence Hockley died on Christmas Day of blunt force injury of the head and torso.

Police spokesman Jeff Kappel said Wednesday the woman had stepped outside of her Seattle home around 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve to talk with a friend. Witnesses heard a loud thump, and the woman was found unconscious by her 13-year-old daughter. Kappel says the man was seen walking away from the woman, and then left in his car.

Principal Kurt Criscione says on the Woodinville High School’s website that Hockley taught English at the school about 20 miles northeast of Seattle.

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