GRANITE FALLS, Wash. — Police say a suspect in the killing of a 31-year-old Granite Falls man may have fled to California.
QUICK FACTS:
- 49-year-old George Hatt identified as suspect
- Witnesses report Hatt, Spencer had altercation
- Hatt considered armed and dangerous
- Spencer has three kids
The sheriff’s office is investigating the 31-year-old’s disappearance because none of his friends or family have heard from him in more than a week, and his car was found abandoned and destroyed. Snohomish County sheriff’s detectives believe human remains found Wednesday are those of Spencer.
Detectives found probable cause to arrest 49-year-old George Hatt for the murder of Andrew Spencer.
Witnesses told detectives that Spencer and Hatt had an altercation earlier in November; Spencer allegedly burglarized Hatt's residence. Hatt allegedly shot Spencer, then burned and buried his body near the 21100 block of 133rd Street NE.
Hatt is believed to have fled the area with his girlfriend about a week ago to California, where he was already wanted for parole violation.
He is considered armed and dangerous.
Human remains were found Wednesday at the location where the homicide is believed to have occurred, detectives say.
Stephanie Burnside, Spencer’s girlfriend, says the last time she heard from him was Nov. 3, after they had an argument.
“'I love you so much baby.' That’s the last text I got from him and the last time I’d seen him,” she said, looking up from the screen.
Stephanie says that in and of itself is odd, but discovering Andrew’s car near Green Mountain off Mountain Loop Highway was downright suspicious.
“All the windows were bashed out of the car, the tires were off the car, his sock was on the ground when I went up there, and I know it was his sock because I do his laundry,” she said.
Stephanie, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, and Andrew’s family searched the woods off the highway Tuesday.
Andrew has three kids.
Stephanie says she doesn’t want them only to see their dad in pictures.
“I will never stop looking. We need some answers, it can’t be left like this,” she concluded.
The remains were taken to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner for positive identification.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office anonymous tip line at 425-388-3845.