EVERETT — Prosecutors have filed first-degree murder charges in the death of Marta Haile in Mountlake Terrace.
Haile, 31, was attacked by a stranger who kicked down her front door April 16. She was struck in the head with a cooking pot until it broke. Her head also was slammed against the wall and floor. She was 18 weeks pregnant.
Both she and the baby died in the days that followed.
The suspect, Christopher D. Yacono, 29, of Arlington, remains in the Snohomish County Jail. His bail was set at $1 million. He has a history of mental health issues, court papers show. A hearing on his mental health status is scheduled for June.
Yacono was released from prison in October, after serving time for arson. He remains on corrections supervision and spent time behind bars in March for violations. Prosecutors believe this could be his third strike under the state’s persistent-offender law.
When Mountlake Terrace police arrived at the home, Yacono told them that someone else had hurt the woman, the charges say. He reportedly said he heard the woman’s cries and broke into the home to help.
Investigators determined Yacono was in the area after visiting someone he knew nearby.
A first-degree murder charge can be sought in cases when a death happens during the course of certain felonies, including breaking into a residence.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rikkiking.
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