Man arrested in slaying

A 33-year-old man arrested in connection with the slaying of a Monroe woman last month was ordered held yesterday on $500,000 cash-only bail.

The suspect, a Monroe resident, is expected to be charged this week with the murder of Tina M. Wallace, 39, who disappeared after leaving a Monroe bar Nov. 12. Her body was found about two weeks later in a roadside ditch south of Monroe.

The suspect could face a charge of aggravated first-degree murder, which could result in the death penalty if he is convicted, said assistant chief criminal deputy prosecuting attorney Michael McGee.

The suspect was arrested Tuesday and booked into Snohomish County Jail in Everett for investigation of first-degree murder and first-degree rape, said Snohomish County Sheriff's spokeswoman Jan Jorgensen. He was already behind bars after his arrest Dec. 12 for a probation violation.

The suspect has an extensive criminal record that includes three felony convictions for burglary in 1989, second-degree escape in 1997 and drug possession this past summer. He also has numerous misdemeanor convictions.

Wallace was last seen leaving the Chopping Block Tavern with the suspect, who agreed to give her a ride home, said McGee. Wallace and the suspect were apparently acquaintances, he said.

Detectives investigating Wallace's disappearance focused on the suspect early on, and their investigation intensified when he gave confliciting stories, said McGee.

He initially denied seeing Wallace that night but later claimed the two left the bar and had consensual sex, McGee said.

Wallace's body was found about 8 a.m. Nov. 27 along the 21400 block of 167th Avenue Southeast. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office determined she had died of homicidal violence.

McGee said Wallace had been savagely beaten, strangled and raped.

Investigators searched the suspect's car and extracted blood samples. Authorities are awaiting the results of tests to determine whether the blood found in the car matches that of the victim, he said.

Investigators are also looking into whether the suspect has any connection with the slaying of Cynthia "Cyndi" Rearden, a 31-year-old single mother who was last seen June 20, 1999, at a Monroe tavern. Her remains were discovered in February outside Sultan.

Jorgensen said last night the only apparent link between the two cases is the fact that the victims were last seen at Monroe taverns. She said the sheriff's department is working with Monroe police to determine whether there is any connection.