Victims of 2 Snohomish County homicides are identified

In unrelated cases, a man died of a gunshot in Lynnwood, and an Everett landlord died of blunt-force trauma.

EVERETT — Victims of two unrelated homicides have been identified by the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Demarcus Bell, 36, of Tacoma, died after he suffered a gunshot wound to the head during a fight Saturday outside a house in the 3300 block of 203rd Street SW in Lynnwood.

Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies arrested a Lynnwood man, Alex Valdovinos, 27, for investigation of second-degree murder. Valdovinos lived at the nearby house. He’s being held in jail with bail set at $1 million.

In a separate case, a body found Monday in Skagit County — off Highway 9 and north of Lake McMurray — has been identified as that of Howard Benzel, 67, of Mukilteo. An autopsy showed he died of blunt-force trauma.

Everett police believe Frank Walton, a tenant of an apartment complex in the 2100 block of Madison Avenue, killed Benzel, his landlord.

Walton was arrested for investigation of second-degree murder Sunday, a day before the body was found. His bail was set at $500,000.

Both deaths were classified as homicides.

Both suspects were in the Snohomish County Jail on Wednesday.

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