Seattle Police Department Case Investigation Report Case Investigation Report: 2019-324146 Type of Crime Suicide Date of Incident 8/30/2019 Date of Last Entry Submitted by: 9/13/2019 Detective Ed Garcia #5647 Homicide and Assault Unit Ed.Garcia@Seattle.Gov UCR- Choose an item. CMS- Administrative Clearance (A) LODIEntities: Suspect: Unknown CCN # AFIS # FBI # SID # Investigation: 1. 08/30/19 - 1500 hrs, received a phone call from patrol advising that an adult female had been pulled out of Green Lake, deceased and with a ligature wrapped around her neck. SFD had already been advised and had responded already. Det. Witmer and I responded to screen the incident in person. The victim was pulled from the water by patrol officers. The victim was fully clothed, but she was missing her shoes. She was wearing white ankle type socks. I did a preliminary visual exam of the decedent and noticed that the victim did not appear to have any defensive wounds or marks on the arms, hands, fingers, face, or legs. The ligature marks around her neck were clearly visible, but nothing to indicate defensive/struggle marks or scratches on her neck, near the ligature marks Form 17.1 Rev. 5/18 Seattle Police Department Case Investigation Report to indicate she was fighting or re 'sting. She also had what appeared to be petechiae marks on the inside of her bottom Lip. We also canva marks or anything that might appear as if a struggle had occurred. We found nothing. During the Det. Witmer located the shoes believed to belong to the decedent. They were found in some shrubbery/brush area approximately 2mm feet from the shoreline and they were missing the shoelaces on each of die shoes. The shoes were found within ev . pulled from the water. the immediate shoreline in an attempt to find drag canv ight of where the victim was . 0630 hrs, received a p/c from Everett PD Det. (:orev Barrows. Det. Barrows called to advise me that he wa investigating a child a anlt case and that 'l'yler Washington, (Autumn Stone's) fiance was . . .pect. Det Barrm . ,tated that he learned of Autmn's death over the weekend and he wanted to make I had information that might be useful in my investigation into Autumn's death. Det. Barrow, also informed me that he had interviewed 'l'yler Washington a few times regarding his in liverett and advised me that 'l'vler has been very cooperative with him. lle also provided me 'ler's contact information. 'l'vler Washin Yton Det. Barrow, also advi she had written what appears to be a suicide note on the day of her death. Dct. Barro he would email me a copv of the letter for my case file. td me that when his agencv learned of Autumn's death, thev learned that 'tated diat . (mm/19 7 NW) hrs, p/c contacted 'l'yler Washington and explained the nature of my investigation. 'l'vler stated that he was unaware that his fiance Autumn had died on Friday and sounded shocked at the news. It took several seconds to get him to focus on my questions after delivering the news to him. 'l'yler stated diat he and not seen or heard from Autumn since last and stated that he and Autumn had agreed to . ay away from each other while the pending im .tigation into their son's injury was being investigated. 1 asked 'l'yler if he would be willing come to the SH) for an inrperson interview and he stated that he could be at the office within the hour. Page 2 oi a ran. in an s/lx Seattle Police Department Case Investigation Report 4. 09/03/19 – 1035 hrs, received an email from Det. Barrows containing a copy of the letter written by Autumn. I reviewed this letter and will include it with the case file. The letter was written in handwriting and is dated, August 30, 2019 10:26 a.m., in the letter, Autumn thanks God for blessing her with two children and conveys that she would do anything to ensure her kids have everything they need to ensure they have the best lives. 5. 09/03/19 – 1130 hrs, Tyler Washington arrived at HQ accompanied by his mother for the arranged interview. I escorted him up to the homicide office. Det. Witmer and I interviewed Tyler. The interview was audio and video recorded. I asked Tyler if he would allow us to forensically exam his cellphone and he consented. I typed up a consent to search form requesting permission to exam Tyler’s phone and he consented by signing the form in the interview room. Before he signed, I had Tyler look at and read the form and I also read it to him out loud. Once Tyler signed the form, Det. Witmer walked the phone over to Det. Sugai and handed it to him to begin the “phone dump” process. In brief summary, when questioned, Tyler stated that the last time he saw his fiancé Autumn was last Thursday 08/29/19 near the Everett Police Station. He stated that he was walking with him mother to the Everett PD and he happened to see Autumn. He wanted to approach her to speak with her but his mother convinced him that it was not a good idea at the time. Tyler stated that he listened to his mother and did not attempt to contact Autumn. He further stated that he had known Autumn for over ten years and that they had one child in common from their relationship and were engaged to get married this month, (09/07/19). Tyler stated that he and Autumn have been separated since last week due to a family issue involving their five-week old son. I was aware of the on-going Everett PD investigation into allegations or suspicions that Tyler had assaulted or abused their son, who was currently at Children’s Hospital. I did not delve into asking him questions regarding that matter. Tyler also stated that prior to me calling him, he was not aware that Autumn had died on Friday. He stated that since last Thursday, (08/29/19), he had not seen or heard from Autumn or any of her family or friends. I then asked Tyler if had been to Greenlake in Seattle on Friday, 08/30/19. Tyler stated that he had not. He stated that he was at his mother’s residence in Bellevue the entire day on Friday. The complete audio and video recording of this interview will be included with the case file. 6. 09/03/19 – 1400 hrs, Spoke with ME Dr. Williams regarding the autopsy of Autumn Stone. Dr. Williams stated that preliminary finding is cause of death, strangulation with a drowning component because the victim was found floating in the lake. Dr. Williams also stated that the victim had no signs of trauma to her extremities, and no signs of trauma or defensive wounds or marks were found on the victim’s neck, other than the ligature mark themselves. Page 3 of 6 Form 17.1 Rev. 5/18 Seattle Police Department 9 Case Investigation Report 7. 9. 09/03/19 7 1426 hrs, took a recorded statement from Ms. Nozomi Baines, (Tyler's mother). This interview took place in the lobby of SPD HQ and was audio recorded widi her permission. In summary, Ms. Baine states that her son Tyler was has been staying with her since last week. She stated diat Tyler her apartment all day and never left the apartment. She stated that TV has no car, so he -ta at her apartment and played video games. She also said that Ty three other younger broth were at die apartment all day as well. The audio recording of this interview will be included with the case file. 09/04/19 7 1000 hrs, received the phone extraction files and Cellebrite report from Det. sugai. I then emailed Sgt. can; adv ing that I had just received the above referenced report and asked that a detective be assigned to - with analy - of the reports. 09/04/19 7 1900 received an email from Det. W. Emerson advising that she had been assigned to st me with the anal . of the phone reports. 10. 09/05/19 7 Det. Emerson advised me that she had completed her initial analysis of the phone data 11. on Tyler Washington's cellphone. She stated that the phone contained no location data after August ll)'h 201'). Based on this, I decided to author a warrant requesting permission to access Was 'ngton's cellphone records from At this point however, thi, 'nx 'tigation is a suspicious death investigation and Washington is not officially being in 'gated for the murder of Autumn Stone. Regardless, I authored a warrant and submitted it to Judge Steve Rosen who reviewed the warrant and denied authorization on the ba that I did not have PC for the warrant request. Judge Rosen advised thatI have a prosecutor rev iew the warrant, so I forwarded my warrant to SDPA Michelle Larson. I was later advised that since there was no crime established to have been committed, diis particular search warrant was not justified. 09/09/19 7 0900 hrs, received a p/c from Autumn's modier (Ki . Rush 7 Kjersty called to get an update on the case. I informed her that the nvestigation is ongoing but that at point, based on the autopsy and investigation. . .no physical or medical evidence has been found to indicate Autumn was killed by homicidal means. Kierst}, tated diat she was surprised to hear diis but understands the importance of evidence in a ca, like this. Kjersty also stated diat she called to let me know that on the day of Autumn's death, Kiersty ast Autumn leaving dieir home in Everett. Autumn had gotten dre ed and had told Ki 1 tha he wanted to clear her head was going for a walk at Greenlake in Seatde. She was then going to ha\ nails done after. Kjersty stated that Autumn left the house at approximately 1030 in the morning and she appeared to be in good spirits. She last heard from Autumn diat same day at approximately 1131 Page 4 of6 ram 17 I sax 6 Seattle Police Department Case Invest1gat10n Report when Autumn called her to let her know she had arrived at Greenlake. Kiersty stated that their conversation was brief and that Autumn sounded fine when they ended the call. Kjersty stated that was 1a time she spoke with Autumn and has no idea what nail salon Autumn would have gone to if she was going to get her nails done. 12. 09/10/19 7 1255 hrs, I emailed Ms. Kier ty Rusch a consent to search form. I had spoken with her earlier on the phone requesting permi._ in to access her daughter's cellphone. Ms. Rusch stated she would authorize the search. 13. 09/10/19 7 1358 hrs, received the consent to search form from Ms. Rusch via fax authorizing access into her daughter's cellphone. 14. 09/12/19 7 1220 hrs, I collected the personal belonging and property of Autumn Stone from the medical examimer's office and submitted them into SPD Evidence. I did not place Autumn's phone into evidence because I will be attempting to get the phone analyzed forensieally. 15. 09/13/19 7 0930 hrs, I turned the victim's phone over to Bet. sugui, along with the signed consent to search and the emailed instructions from the victim's mother on how to access the phone. Det. Sugui will attempt to Tract data from the phone for the purpose of having that data reviewed by me as part of the investigation into what type ofconununication the victim may have had before her death. (Note) at the time of me victim's recovery from Green Lake, the phone was on her in one of her pockets and wa bmerged under water for an unknown amount of time, it is highly pos_ le that her cellphone vater damaged and data may not be extracted. 10. 09/13/19 7 1320 hrs, Det. Sugai informed me that he was unable to complete any data extraction from Autumn Stone's phone due to possible water damage. Det. Sugai stated that the sim card was wet and water droplets fell from the phone. Ile stated that the phone also would not power on and would not accept a charge. 17. 09/13/19 7 1400 hrs, Based on the invesdgation thus far, diere is no evidence, physical or otherwise that indicates Autumn Stone died as a result of homicide. This investigation was screened with Det. Sgt. Nelson and will be closed inactive. This case can be reinvestigated should additional information come to light. 11;. 09/19/19 7 1000 hrs, p/c contacted Kiersty Rusch, I informed her that this investigation had been forwarded to my supervisor with a classification of suieide2019, based on Page 5 of6 print. 17 I set 5/18 Seattle Police Department Case Investigation Report the lack of any physical or forensic evidence that would indicate Autumn died by homicidal violence. I also advised her that Sgt. Nelson agreed with the suicide classification, but reiterated that if any information comes to light in the future that is suspicious in nature regarding the death of her daughter, the case can be readdressed. Ms. Rusch stated she understood and thanked me and the department for the efforts made in this investigation. Ms. Rusch stated that she would inform the rest of her family of our discussion. Page 6 of 6 Form 17.1 Rev. 5/18