SEATTLE — A King County judge found probable cause to keep the man arrested in connection with the disappearance of Leticia Martinez in custody on Friday.
Brett Gitchel, 46, was taken into custody Thursday by Seattle police on the investigation of murder, kidnapping, assault and theft.
On Friday, King County Court found probable cause for attempted murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, first-degree theft and unlawful possession of a firearm to keep Gitchel in custody.
Gitchel did not appear in court Friday and bail was not addressed. He remains in King County Jail.
Police said Gitchel went to Martinez’s house on April 2, kidnapped her son and later attempted to strangle him after driving around south King County for a couple of hours.
Martinez's son told investigators he was woken up in the middle of the night by someone knocking on his bedroom door. He said an unknown man told him his mother had been in an accident and that he was going to take him to go see her at the hospital.
The son told investigators the man, identified as Gitchel by police, drove him around for hours before stopping somewhere in Renton. The son said Gitchel attempted to strangle him with "an unknown type of material."
Martinez's son was able to get outside of the vehicle and call 911 while Gitchel fled the area, according to investigators.
Police found Martinez's Honda CR-V on fire hours later that night.
Police said Gitchel's cell phone data showed he went to a remote mountain area the day after Martinez's disappearance and kidnapping of her son.
"Whoever did this is an awful awful human being and to do that and be that cruel is reprehensible,” said Martinez’s friend, Liz Latham.
Martinez’s son, as well as, friends and family were in the courtroom.
"Terrible thoughts came to my mind which I'd rather not utter. We are still trying to hope for the best as much as possible," said Latham.
The Seattle Police Department said Martinez, 58, was last seen on March 31 at T-Mobile Park during a Mariners game. The 58-year-old has not contacted her family since the game, according to police.
Prosecutors confirmed Gitchel was photographed with Martinez at the Mariners game in a photo released by Seattle police.
Gitchel initially denied knowing Martinez but later admitted that he was at the Mariners game with her. He told investigators that he doesn't know where Martinez is and that she left the game after she "ran into some guy."
When Gitchel was arrested, police said he was wearing a Seattle Mariners wristband and hid it in his pocket before the interview.
Gitchel was taken into custody after he was identified by a Costco employee for wearing the same clothes as a suspect in a theft incident days before.
Probable cause documents show he had numerous cuts and bruises. Police took his clothes for evidence and while doing so, saw what appeared to be blood on the inside of his right shoe.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said it expects to make a formal charging decision when the case is referred to its office. The prosecutor's office said it expects to receive the required documents to make the charging decision by next week from investigators.
Seattle police have not yet located Martinez and are asking for the public’s help. Police ask anyone with any information on Martinez's whereabouts to call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
Martinez is described as having green eyes, brown hair, being about 5-foot-9, and weighing about 135 pounds.
"It's so easy to feel hopeless or scared and all of the things, but we have each other and we are so determined to find her, find Leticia, and find her safe," said Martinez’s friend, Michelle.