LYNNWOOD, Wash. — The man accused of kidnapping a woman before leading police on a pursuit that ended in a deadly crash in Snohomish County was charged Friday, April 26.
Robert Craig Rowland, 37, faces charges of first-degree murder, vehicular assault, taking a vehicle without permission, attempting to elude police, and first-degree kidnapping. Bail was set at $2 million.
On April 11, Snohomish County Sheriff deputies learned Rowland was reported to have kidnapped a then-34-year-old woman from the Tulalip Casino. The woman was believed to be in danger and the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force began searching for the two, according to probable cause documents.
At the time, Rowland had felony warrants for his arrest.
Task force members found Rowland in Everett driving a stolen 2005 GMC Sierra pickup without license plates. The woman was in the passenger seat.
Law enforcement tried to pull the truck over but he fled.
Rowland eluded police briefly, ending up in the area near the Boeing production facility in Everett, according to the woman. Rowland was "driving like a maniac," she later told police.
Police found the truck again and the pursuit continued.
At one point, Rowland exited to state Route 99 via 31st Avenue West, performed a U-turn on SR 99, before driving onto the on-ramp to northbound SR 525.
Before driving onto SR 525, he crossed over a grass median and began traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of SR 525, according to probable cause documents. Police ended their pursuit.
An 83-year-old woman, identified in a WSP incident report as Trudy L. Slanger of Lynnwood, was driving in the northbound lanes at the time.
Rowland drove less than half a mile before crashing into Slanger's vehicle.
Slanger died at the scene.
The woman in the passenger seat of the truck was taken to Providence Medical Center where it was discovered she suffered a broken foot.
Rowland was taken to Harborview Medical Center for serious injuries.
Rowland's next court date is May 10.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233, text START to 88788 or visit thehotline.org for additional guidance and resources.
Visit the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence website for additional local resources.
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