Closing arguments expected in Savage murder trial

TACOMA, Wash. — Closing arguments are scheduled Monday in the Tyler Savage murder trial, more than three years after his arrest.

The defense rested on December 12. A jury is expected to start deliberating by Monday afternoon.

Savage has admitted to killing 16-year-old Kimberly Daily, who was developmentally disabled. Savage claims it happened during a sex game when Daily asked him choke her. He says it was an accident.

"She kept on asking me and saying it was safe and she'd done it before," Savage testified.

Savage now says he panicked when the sex game took an unexpected turn.

But at the time of Daily's death in 2010, Savage told investigators he strangled Daily when she tried to leave, and then staged a rape.

Daily’s body was found hidden in some nearby bushes.

Detective Sgt. Teresa Berg testified that Savage was nervous and fidgeted while being questioned, often sighing, playing with his hair and burping. Savage, now 21, was 18 at the time.

Investigators say that in 2010, Savage began referring to Daily as "it" during interviews with detectives.

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