Post navigation

Prev: (07/24/09) | Next: (07/24/09)

Off Hill: South Park murder suspect collared after bus driver tip

Seattle police say they have captured the suspect in this week’s South Park knife attack who they say killed one woman and sent another to the hospital with serious injuries. According to the report, Isaiah M.K. Kalebu, 23, was spotted by a Metro bus driver Friday night. The driver contacted police who took Kalebu into custody inside Magnuson Park.

Kalebu is suspected of stabbing Teresa Butz to death and wounding her partner at their South Park home.

Just hours earlier, police released this video to help track down a ‘person of interest’ in the case.

According to the Slog, the video was collected as part of an earlier investigation in March 2008. The Seattle PI is reporting that Kalebu is also a suspect in a recent fatal arson in Tacoma.

Below is the bulletin from the SPD announcing the arrest:

SEATTLE – Seattle Police homicide detectives have identified a suspect in the July 19th South Park murder/attempted murder case.  Probable cause exists for police officers to arrest Isaiah M.K. Kalebu, age 23, for Murder.  Kalebu is six feet tall with a slim build.  Detectives and officers are searching for him at this moment.  

UPDATE:  Preliminary reports indicate that a Metro Bus operator who had knowledge of the suspect description contacted the Seattle Police Communications Center with a possible suspect sighting at NE 65th Street and Sandpoint Way in North Seattle.  This occurred at around 6:30 p.m.  North Precinct patrol officers saturated the area and searched for the suspect.  Officers located the suspect and his dog in Magnuson Park.  The suspect surrendered to officers without incident.  He is in custody and en route to Seattle Police Headquarters for questioning.  He will ultimately be booked into King County Jail for Investigation of Murder.

Subscribe and support CHS Contributors -- $1/$5/$10 per month

1 Comment
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
stillahippie
stillahippie
15 years ago

They found the murder suspect one week after the murder because a bus driver spotted him.He was walking his dog in a park full of kids!!!.
Kalebu was evaluated by Western state hospital they found that,
“Kalebu did not have the capacity to rationally understand” the case against him at that time”.
Also I understand he was “off his meds during his contacts with law enforcement. First question, Was he off his meds when the judge declined to hold him?. Next question, If law enforcement knew he was unstable and needed medication why could they not see that he at least got that mediction why did they just leave him to wander around in the community?. Last question why hasn’t KOMO and other media got the answer to those questions.instead of rushing to condemn this very unstable man