Local

Judge sets bail for man accused of killing woman near Seward Park

SEATTLE — A 23-year-old man who was arrested Thursday in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was found near Seward Park made his first court appearance Friday.

Bail was set at $10 million as a judge found probable cause for first-degree murder.

Officers were called to Lake Washington Blvd South and South Orcas Street at 5:30 a.m. after a jogger found the woman and called 911.

Before that, police said they received a call from a person who reported seeing a driver passed out behind the wheel of a car at 17th Avenue and East Madison Street.

The caller also reported that the driver did not respond when they knocked on the window and appeared to have blood on their hands and in the car, police said.

When officers arrived, they found a man slumped over the wheel of the car and splatters of blood on the passenger side, along with bullet casings inside.

Police eventually pulled the man from the vehicle and arrested him.

About 93 minutes after the call about the passed-out man, police said a call came in about an unconscious man who was found on the ground near Seward Park, possibly with a crushed head.

When officers arrived at 17th Avenue and East Madison, they found a naked woman who was dead with severe head trauma, authorities said. It was later determined she had been shot in the head twice.

While law enforcement was investigating the 23-year-old, investigators performed an initial search of his vehicle and found nothing that appeared to identify the deceased woman, officials said. However, they found bullet defects on the passenger’s side of the car, recovered a semi-automatic handgun, two fired 9 mm cartridge casings, and one live round.

Investigators said they also found what appeared to be female clothing and shoes on the floorboard of the passenger side of the vehicle.

No information has been released about the woman.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the woman’s death to give them a call at 206-233-5000.