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Man arrested in connection with 2019 Everett homicide, investigators say

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — A 50-year-old Everett man has been arrested in the 2019 homicide of 51-year-old Eric Adams, authorities with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies said the man was taken into custody about 5 p.m. Tuesday without incident in Grants Pass, Oregon, and was booked into the Josephine County Jail as a fugitive from justice. He will be extradited to Snohomish County on a $1 million second-degree murder warrant.

Detectives responded on May 23, 2019, to the 13000 block of Fourth Avenue West in Everett after a man’s body, later identified as Adams, was found inside a storage unit, investigators said.

Family and friends reportedly had not heard from Adams since April 29, 2019.

Investigators said a friend had driven to the storage facility where Adams lived and worked, cut the lock off the victim’s storage unit, and found him inside. Adams was discovered with blunt force injury to the head.

During the investigation, detectives had interviewed more than 30 people, taking several fingerprints, DNA samples and later identified a suspect through DNA testing. After detectives looked at entry and exit logs from the facility, they showed the 50-year-old Everett man was inside during the same Adam time frame Adams was killed, authorities said.

Investigators said during an interview, the Everett man acknowledged he and the victim knew each other and saw each other frequently at the facility.

The suspect told investigators he went to the storage facility on April 29, 2019, and tried to talk with Adams about his dog, which was run over and killed by another renter at the facility, investigators said.

Officials said the suspect told investigators Adams was working at the facility the day his dog was killed but stated he was unable to find Adams and did not have contact with him.

Investigators said evidence tested from the crime scene showed DNA from the suspect. His DNA was found underneath the fingernails of the victim.

“We never gave up hope that we would be able to arrest Eric Adams’ killer,” Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney said. “I know this was a long and demanding case for the lead detective, and yesterday’s arrest shows just how powerful her relentless determination was in getting one step closer to justice for Eric and his loved ones.”

Investigators are asking anyone who has information related to the investigation to call 425-388-3845.