Monroe man held in fatal assault

MONROE — Relatives of a Monroe motel manager who suffered a fatal head injury filled a Snohomish County courtroom on Wednesday to get a look at the man police believe is responsible for the attack.

Monroe police on Monday found Kenneth Wolfe, 46, lying motionless in the parking lot of the Brookside Motel on U.S. 2. He had blood pouring from the back of his head, according to court documents. He was rushed to a Seattle hospital, where he later died.

Officers arrested Jesse Bullington, 30, for investigation of second-degree murder. A judge on Wednesday ordered him held on $250,000 bail.

“I came to see what the guy looks like,” Wolfe’s brother in-law, Ed Slyter, said Wednesday.

Wolfe’s wife and other witnesses reportedly told police that Wolfe and Bullington had gotten into an argument Tuesday morning. Bullington, who has a criminal past including felony convictions, had lived in the roadside motel for about two months. Witnesses told investigators Bullington was arguing about barking dogs and a refund when Wolfe evicted him.

The argument moved to the parking lot, where witnesses reported seeing Bullington allegedly punch Wolfe in the jaw, court documents said. The witnesses told detectives that Bullington laughed when Wolfe fell back and hit his head on the pavement, police wrote in an affidavit.

Wolfe “didn’t even throw a punch,” Slyter said. “He must have been blindsided.”

Bullington reportedly ran off after the alleged altercation. Acquaintances of Bullington contacted police with his whereabouts and detectives were able to speak with him over the phone. Several hours later he was arrested without incident.

Wolfe and his wife managed the motel for several years, Slyter said.

“He was doing a real good job. They’d cleaned it up and he was friends with police and businesses in the area,” Slyter said. “He was a real hard worker and real devoted to his wife.”

Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.