LAKEWOOD, Pierce County – A sex offender suspected in the murder of 12-year-old Zina Linnik may have a connection to the death of another girl, Adre’Anna Jackson, who was found dead in a Pierce County field in 2006, police said.

Residents of the Tillicum neighborhood where Adre’Anna lived recognized Terapon Adhahn’s photo when police showed it to them, and several said they remembered seeing him in the area around the time she disappeared, Lakewood police Lt. Dave Guttu said Tuesday.

“Some have indicated he did quite a few handyman jobs in the area,” Guttu said. “We know he was in the area when she disappeared. Now we’re just trying to firm up the timeline to the day and the hour.”

Adre’Anna, 10, was last seen alive when she left for school Dec. 2, 2005. Two boys playing in a field found her remains four months later. The Pierce County medical examiner was not able to determine a cause of death.

Adhahn provided his lawyer with information that led detectives to Zina’s body, police say.

Associated Press

Bellingham: Poker player places 10th

Bellingham resident Steven Garfinkle placed 10th Monday at the World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas.

Garfinkle, an associate professor of history at Western Washington University, just missed the final table when he lost to Raymond Rahme about 4 a.m.

Still, Garfinkle will come home with a $476,926 payout for 10th place, beating thousands of other players in what’s considered the world’s premier poker tournament. First place, which should be decided today, will get more than $8 million.

Garfinkle told a World Series of Poker interviewer that he took somewhat of a chance on the last hand, because he didn’t want to come to the final table with a small amount of chips.

As 10th place, he was the last player to be eliminated before the prestigious final table.

The Main Event, which costs $10,000 to enter, attracted 6,358 players this year.

Bellingham Herald

Lummi Reservation: Seal saved from dog

A harbor seal pup seen for a week on a Gooseberry Point beach was attacked by a dog Sunday morning, prompting residents to rescue the animal.

Gooseberry Point resident Sherry Huston said a Lummi Nation member heard the young male seal yelping and chased the dog off.

The pup was taken first to Northwest Wildlife in Everson, then transported to Progressive Animal Welfare Society in Lynnwood.

A PAWS spokeswoman said the seal is in stable condition, though it was very thin upon arrival. PAWS aims to release the animal into the wild after rehabilitation.

Bellingham Herald