SEATTLE — Police arrested a suspect in connection to a carjacking that ended in the death of a beloved Seattle dog walker.
The incident occurred Tuesday when the 48-year-old suspect entered the victim's vehicle through the passenger side door. According to Seattle police, there was a struggle when the suspect tried to get 80-year-old Ruth Dalton out of her car. She tried to resist but was ultimately pushed out of the driver's side door and dragged for a few feet when the suspect tried to take off.
Police said several people saw the struggle and tried to help the victim and confront the suspect, but he fled the scene.
Then, police received reports of a person hurting a dog near Brighton Playfield. When police arrived at the scene, they found a dog that had been stabbed to death. Upon closer review of the dog's tag, it belonged to Dalton.
The stolen vehicle was also found nearby.
When crime scene investigators gathered evidence, they lifted a fingerprint from Dalton's cellphone, which was left in the car. From there, they identified the suspect and set up surveillance at his residence.
The suspect was located and arrested Wednesday morning. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of Dalton's car keys and a bloody knife, according to police.
At a press conference Tuesday, SPD Deputy Chief Eric Barden said the case exemplified "great collaboration with the community and great collaboration internally within the police department."
Dalton is remembered as a beloved and dedicated dog walker in the area.
"She was a service-dedicated person who devoted seven days a week to caring for people's loved pets. She was extremely loyal, caring, and honest," her friend Charlene Smith told KING 5 Monday.