Man found dead after attacking his wife with a hammer in Edmonds

EDMONDS, Wash. – A man was found dead in Seattle on Wednesday after being wanted by the Edmonds Police Department (EPD) for domestic violence.

EPD was attempting to locate a 73-year-old man after allegedly attacking his 68-year-old wife with a hammer. The woman managed to escape to a neighbor's apartment before calling police shortly after 5:15 a.m

When they arrived at the residence, they found a “significant crime scene.” According to EPD, the woman suffered “multiple serious injuries” after her husband began attacking her with a hammer while she was sleeping.

She was transported to Swedish Medical Center in Edmonds in stable condition and later released.

The man fled the scene in a vehicle. Edmonds police developed probable cause to arrest the man on charges of first-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment.

“Don’t come any closer! Call 911,” the EPD said in a post on X shortly before 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. About four hours later, police said there was no longer a threat to the community.

His description was shared with other law enforcement agencies. The agency said that shortly before 5:30 a.m., the Washington State Patrol (WSP) located the man's abandoned vehicle on southbound Interstate 5 in Seattle.

During their investigation, authorities found a man below the Ship Canal Bridge who matched the original description.

“Initial information indicates the suspect fell from the bridge above where his vehicle was located,” EPD said.

Edmonds investigators continue to work with WSP and the Seattle Police Department to investigate the initial incident and the man's death.