Police search for teen’s attacker

14-year-old stabbed as she walked Everett trail

By CATHY LOGG and ERIC STEVICK

Herald Writers

EVERETT — Police are seeking help from the public to identify the person who repeatedly stabbed and tried to strangle a 14-year-old girl Monday morning as she walked along the Interurban Trail near 112th Street SE.

The fierce attack left the girl severely injured. She underwent surgery early Monday at Providence Everett Medical Center’s Colby Campus. She was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she was listed in critical condition in the pediatric intensive care unit Monday evening.

Police revealed few details about the nature and extent of her injuries, but Lt. John Springer said she was stabbed several times and her attacker also tried to strangle her.

However, she was conscious and able to talk to police and paramedics after the attack.

A man who lives in the area and also was on the trail saw the girl lying on the ground and bleeding about 6:20 a.m. She was next to the trail, about 50 feet from southbound I-5, and a man was near her.

As the witness approached, the man ran away. Police have no description of him. The witness summoned help.

"The seriousness of her injuries would lead me to believe the attacker was scared off," Everett police Sgt. Boyd Bryant said.

The girl left her home at the Country Club Apartments and headed south on the trail en route to a friend’s house. From there, she and her friend planned to take a bus to Cascade High School, where the girl is a freshman and school begins at 7:30 a.m.

Detectives interviewed a couple of people Monday but made no arrests, Bryant said.

Authorities were unable to airlift the girl from the scene because of fog and rain.

Detectives used an engineering device called a total station to measure and map the scene. Small white markers on the trail indicated the sites of possible evidence. Police erected a metal-frame shelter covered by a blue tarp to protect some evidence.

The 14-year-old transferred into the Everett School District as an eighth-grader in January, enrollment records say.

She may have previously been a student at Voyager Middle School in the Mukilteo School District, said Marcee Britton, an Everett School District spokeswoman.

Some of the girl’s closest school friends were informed about the assault during the day and offered counseling, said Gay Campbell, school district spokeswoman.

School officials told the student body what happened late in the school day. All students were offered counseling.

Campbell estimated that seven to 10 students sought counseling, signing a card for the girl.

Cascade also offered extra busing home from school Monday. That included transportation for students who ordinarily don’t take the bus.

"In the interest of safety for all of our students, we asked any students who wanted to ride the bus home today to go to the bus loop," Cascade principal John Green said in a letter to parents. "We had staff members there to put them on the right buses."

Green encouraged parents to remind their children to take safety precautions, such as riding the bus to school, walking in groups, being aware of surroundings and asking for help if they have concerns.

Some of the girl’s friends at the Everett Country Club Apartments took news of the assault hard, breaking into tears and seeking hugs from older friends who comforted them.

A group of friends gathered outside the girl’s home and expressed their concerns about her family as well, including a younger sister who reportedly didn’t go to school Monday.

Police said the girl’s family had gone to the hospital.

The 14-year-old likes boys, friends and the music of Shania Twain, Backstreet Boys and Mariah Carey, said Jennifer Matthiesen, 13.

"She’s a sweet person who listens to what you have to say, and she’ll help you," said another friend, Dawn Morrissey, 14.

Parents, students and community members can meet with police and school officials, along with counselors, at 7 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. todayt in the Cascade High School library.

Detectives ask anyone who was in the area and saw anything or has information about the incident to call the Everett Police Department tip line at 425-257-8450.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Fernando Espinoza salts the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue South on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Think this is cold, Snohomish County? Wait until Tuesday

Tuesday could bring dangerous wind chill during the day and an overnight low of 19 degrees

The Washington State Department of Licensing office is seen in 2018 in Seattle. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Drivers licensing offices to close Feb. 14-17

Online services are also not available Feb. 10-17. The Washington State Department of Licensing said the move is necessary to upgrade software.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.