KING COUNTY, Wash. — Detectives with the King County Sheriff’s Office have concluded their investigation into a Maple Valley woman found dead in her home on Feb. 19, and her husband, who was found dead Feb. 21 outside the Southeast Precinct.
Investigators say Julia Howell, 57, was killed by her husband, Jason Howell, at their home on or sometime around Jan. 26 at their home.
Julia Howell missed her scheduled hair appointment at a salon in Bellevue on Feb. 5, causing concern for the salon employees, because she never missed an appointment without calling. The employees tried to get in touch with her but she didn’t answer her phone.
During that time, Julia Howell’s husband had changed their home voice recording to say the couple was sick with the flu and would take a while to return calls. Salon workers knew that Julia Howell had a tumultuous relationship with her husband.
Deputies went to the house for a welfare check. The house was secure so they left. They returned to the home another day and broke down the door. Julia Howell’s body was found in a room upstairs.
As for Jason Howell, deputies found a white SUV running outside their precinct in the 22300 block of Southeast 231st Street, and a man nearby who was dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Deputies said the SUV was registered to Jason Howell.
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