EVERETT — A neighbor reported hearing an argument and two loud thumps from the apartment where a woman was found beaten to death last month.
An autopsy revealed that Samantha Ellis, 45, suffered multiple blows to her head. The Snohomish County medical examiner also concluded that Ellis had additional injuries consistent with someone stomping on her face.
Edmonds police found blood throughout the studio apartment that Ellis shared with David Hoar, 62. Officers arrested Hoar on Dec. 21, two days after he called 911, saying that Ellis had fallen. She’d likely been dead for a few days.
Prosecutors recently charged Hoar with second-degree murder. He was being held on $1 million bail. Hoar has pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Police officers and fire crews were called to the apartment at least three times in November. The couple had a day-long argument that was reported to officers. About a week later, medics were called to address Ellis’ medical complaints, including panic attacks and shortness of breath. Crews noted that she might have mixed prescription medication with alcohol.
Hoar called 911 on Dec. 19 to report that Ellis was dead. He allegedly said Ellis had fallen multiple times. He claimed that Ellis was drunk when she took a large amount of pills. He told police he thought Ellis might have overdosed.
He denied that he and Ellis had been fighting when she fell, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Michael Boska wrote in charging papers. Hoar reported that the blood on his clothing was from Ellis when she fell. He allegedly said that Ellis hadn’t been breathing for three days, but he didn’t call 911 because he was hoping she’d wake up. Officers noted that Hoar was intoxicated.
The medical investigator on the scene observed cuts to Ellis’ chin and forehead. “At the time, it was believed that the injuries may be consistent with falling and hitting one’s head on hard surface and that the death may have been accidental,” Boska wrote.
The medical examiner later determined that Ellis had additional injuries to the back of her head. He ruled her death a homicide.
Hoar allegedly told police that he and Ellis had argued Dec. 15. He denied killing her or hitting her, according to court papers.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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