Eastside News

Brother of Kenmore woman whose body was found in suitcase charged with her murder

Charges have been filed in the death of a Kenmore woman whose decomposing body was found in a suitcase in Maltby last year.

Jamie Haggard was last seen on June 8, 2016 and reported missing by her father on June 17 that year.  She was 27.

David Brent Haggard, the victim's half-brother, was charged with second-degree murder Monday. He was 42 when his sister disappeared from the Kenmore home she shared with him and her boyfriend.

Jamie's father said she had only been living there about three months.

During the investigation into Jamie's disappearance, King County detectives spoke with numerous witnesses who said Jamie had a volatile relationship with her brother, David, according to the Sheriff's Office. On numerous occasions, Jamie told her boyfriend she feared David was going to kill her, police said.

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After receiving tips, in July 2016, King County deputies brought a crew to excavate the home's backyard in an area where there had been a hole that was intended for a water feature, but had been filled in.

The search came up empty.

In May 2017, detectives once again received tips and deputies and a crew were back in the home’s backyard to excavate again, but Jamie's remains were not found.

In May 2018, Jamie's remains were found stuffed in a suitcase that was discovered by work crews cleaning up trash along Highway 522, near Downes and Fales roads in Maltby.

The remains were so decomposed, it took two months to identify them as Jamie's. Charging documents said her body was dismembered and partially burned.

The Sheriff's Office said David Haggard is currently in jail on an unrelated arson charge from a 2016 case that has not yet gone to trial.  When Haggard was charged with murder Monday, his bail was set at $2 million.

Previous coverage of Jamie Haggard case:

July 20, 2018: VIDEO: New details in Jamie Haggard's murder

July 24, 2018: VIDEO: Family of Jamie Haggard speaks out

July 24, 2018: 'She was so sweet': Family speaks out after body of missing woman found

May 25, 2017: Detectives search Kenmore yard again for missing woman's remains

Jul 15, 2016: Sheriff: No remains found after searching missing woman's backyard