Man who killed himself in sheriff’s parking lot may be tied to woman’s death, WA officials say

A Washington man who may be connected to the death of a Maple Valley woman died by suicide in a police station parking lot early Friday morning, according to officials.

The King County Sheriff’s office said in a statement at about 4:30 a.m. Friday that deputies were investigating a man who was found dead at a sheriff’s office precinct in Maple Valley, which is about 40 miles from Seattle. The man’s name has not been released.

“Deputies on scene of death investigation at the KCSO Precinct in Maple Valley,” King County public information officer tweeted. “A male has been found deceased. Major Crimes on scene investigating.”

At about 1:50 a.m., a man called 911 and said someone was going to “kill themselves” at the precinct, spokesperson Sgt. Ryan Abbott said, according to KOMO News. Deputies then found an “SUV still running and the body of a man,” the news outlet reported.

It appeared that the man had shot himself in the head, KIRO7 reported.

The car was registered to the husband of a woman found dead Wednesday, KOMO news reported.

Julia Howell, 57, was found dead in her home Wednesday, according to KIRO7, after she missed a scheduled hair appointment.

Investigators haven’t been able to talk to Jason Howell, Julia’s husband, since her death, KIRO7 reported.

“This isn’t a normal event to happen out in this area,” Abbott told KOMO News about the woman’s death on Wednesday.

This story was originally published February 21, 2020 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Man who killed himself in sheriff’s parking lot may be tied to woman’s death, WA officials say."