MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. — A Maple Valley woman who was found dead in her home earlier this month was killed by her husband, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office released the findings of the major crimes detectives Friday.
Detectives determined the 57-year-old woman was killed on or about Jan. 26, but she wasn’t found for several weeks on Feb. 19.
The husband stayed in motels until he died by suicide outside the sheriff’s office’s Maple Valley precinct Feb. 21, according to the sheriff’s office. A man who was found in the parking lot appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The woman was found dead after she missed her hair appointment in Bellevue, prompting workers at the salon to make repeated attempts to reach her by phone. The workers kept getting a voicemail message that was recorded by a man they believed to be her husband.
"Julie and I are feeling quite bad. We have some flu or something serious, so please pardon our delay in responding," the recording said.
Detectives went to the home twice before breaking down the door to get inside. They found the woman’s body on the second floor.