LAKE STEVENS, Wash. — A man was charged with second-degree murder while in community custody on Friday in connection to a homicide in Lake Stevens that happened in August.
According to court documents, Mark Downey, 56, is believed to have killed Katie A. McQueen, 37, of Mariposa, Calif., on Aug. 9, 2024, in Lake Stevens. Over one week later, her body was found in a rural area of Lake Stevens, with trauma to her neck.
During McQueen's autopsy, DNA was found that matched Downey's profile. He is a convicted felon who served time for murdering a woman and third-degree assault of a child with sexual motivation.
According to court documents, when officers went to arrest Downey, it was revealed he was already in prison in Arizona. He had allegedly attempted to flee to Mexico the day after McQueen was killed. He was arrested in Arizona for failing to register due to his status as a sex offender.
After he was extradited to Snohomish County, local officials interviewed him. During this, he initially told authorities he had never met McQueen, then once he was told they found his DNA on her body, he told several different stories about interactions with the victim.
Finally, he told authorities he and the victim had a consensual sexual encounter, then she made comments that he claimed "attacked his manhood," and he stabbed her in the throat. He then admitted to disposing of her body in a wooded area nearby and fleeing to Mexico.
Downey is being held on $5 million bail.
