Violent felon with at least 65 arrests on his record released from jail two days before allegedly stabbing man, woman over 160 times in shocking double murder



A 42-year-old violent felon who's been arrested at least 65 times was released from jail two days before allegedly stabbing a man and woman over 160 times total in a double murder in Seattle on Sunday.

What are the details?

Seattle police arrested John Marcel Williams for killing a 53-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman inside an apartment on the 6100 block of 4th Ave S in the city's Georgetown neighborhood, KOMO-TV reported.

The man was found with more than 60 stab wounds; the woman was found with more than 100 stab wounds, KCPQ-TV said.

The murders occurred around 4:15 p.m., KOMO said, adding that residents said a neighbor called 911 after finding the two victims inside the apartment.

The victims were identified in court documents as Maryanne Wooden and Howard Hicks, the station said.

Court documents indicate the suspect was seen on surveillance video walking toward the apartment with Wooden “then leaving the apartment" and appearing to "have blood on his hands,” KOMO reported.

Police got a 911 call about 30 minutes later in regard to a man walking around covered in blood and arrested the suspect within walking distance of the murder scene, the station said.

What do we know about Williams?

Court records show Williams has at least 65 arrests out of California and four arrests this year in Washington state for attempted rape, property destruction, vehicle prowling, unlawful use of weapons, and misdemeanor assault, KOMO said.

Williams was arrested Labor Day weekend for attacking workers at Bacco Café near Pike Place Market — but only charged with misdemeanor assault, the station said.

“That was the call by Seattle Police, and usually that’s done because of evidence or what they’re able to prove, before they send it to our office or the city attorney’s office,” Casey McNerthney, spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, told KOMO.

The Seattle City Attorney’s Office added to the station that it negotiated a plea agreement for Williams to serve 60 days in jail with the rest of his nearly year-long sentence suspended for 24 months.

Williams pleaded guilty to three counts of misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to 56 days in jail with credit for time served, KOMO said, and was released Friday — two days before police said he committed the double murder.

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told the station Williams’ attempted rape case from July hadn't been sent yet to its office for felony charges, but that case is still under investigation.

Williams waived his first appearance in court Tuesday afternoon, KOMO said, adding that a judge found probable cause for two counts of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement. A bail hearing will take place Wednesday, the station said.

'Nobody deserves to die like that'

Nearby residents were shaken by the double murder, KOMO said.

“Nobody deserves to die like that,” Shelley Young, who lives nearby, told the station. “I’m scared; I keep myself in the house most of the time.”

John Terhofter, who also lives nearby, noted to KOMO that “Maryanne was a good friend of mine, caring person, really caring. It’s sad.”

Terhofter added to the station that he "went down there, the door was open, I just looked, I saw somebody on the floor."

Georgetown double homicide suspect a no-show in court, has previous record | FOX 13 Seattle youtu.be

(H/T: The Post Millennial)

Video: 16-year-old thug with reported criminal record punches, body-slams cop in NYC subway, even puts officer in choke hold. He's released next day.



A 16-year-old male who was caught on video punching and body-slamming a police officer in a New York City subway over the weekend — and even putting the cop in a choke hold — was released on his own recognizance the very next day, police sources told the New York Post.

Image source: Daily Mail video screenshot

The teen — who isn't being publicly identified because of his age — previously had been arrested for possession of a loaded gun and robbery, police sources added to the Post.

What are the details?

The teen jumped the turnstile at the 125th Street-Lexington Avenue station in East Harlem just before 6 p.m. Saturday, police told the paper, adding that a 16-year-old girl who was with him ducked under the turnstile.

The male teen “became verbally aggressive for over 3 minutes with officers” before they tried to arrest him, authorities noted to the Post.

Cellphone video shows the male teen repeatedly punching the cop, who fights back as they wrestle and trade blows in the subway.

Image source: Daily Mail video screenshot

Image source: Daily Mail video screenshot

The female teen lands punches also before a woman NYPD officer pulls her away, the Post said.

At one point the male teen rams the cop into a metal fence before body-slamming the officer and even putting the cop into a choke hold.

Image source: Daily Mail video screenshot

Another uniformed individual steps in to help the officer, grabbing the male teen's wrists, which allows the cop to finally gain control of the situation and pin the bloody-faced teen to the subway floor.

Image source: Daily Mail video screenshot

Image source: Daily Mail video screenshot

What happened next?

The male teen was arrested and charged with assault on a police officer, obstruction of governmental administration, and resisting arrest, police told the Post. But police sources told the paper the male teen was released on his own recognizance during a Sunday court appearance.

The female teen was arrested on the same charges, but the Post said it wasn't immediately known what happened at her arraignment.

Both officers were treated and released at NYU Langone Hospital, the paper said, adding that the cop who fought with the male teen suffered head and shoulder swelling.

'We are feeling abandoned'

Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association union, told the Post that "if New Yorkers want to know why the chaos in the transit system is not improving more quickly — this is why. The criminals underground know they can get in a brawl, choke a cop, and be back out in hours. Cops are putting ourselves on the line to make the subways safer, but we are feeling abandoned by a justice system that won’t back us up.”

Portland man accused of two murders was jailed days prior for interfering with police at protest — but that charge was dropped the next day, and he was let go



A Portland man accused of double murder was arrested just days before for interfering with police during a protest — but the charge related to the protest was dismissed the next day, and he was released from jail, KOIN-TV reported.

What are the details?

Cassy Leaton, 22, and Najaf "Nate" Hobbs, 39, were stabbed to death June 16, and police arrested Phillip Lawrence Nelson two days later, the station said, adding that the suspect faces two murder charges and is being held without bail.

Cassy Leaton and Najaf "Nate" HobbsImage source: Portland Police Bureau

But on June 12, Nelson was arrested at a protest in downtown Portland on a misdemeanor charge of interfering with a peace officer, KOIN said, citing court records. However, that charge was dismissed the next day, the station said. Booking information indicates Nelson was released from the Multnomah County Detention Center.

This summer, Portland protesters routinely have been released in such a fashion following their arrests. As the Oregonian reported:

Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt has said his office won't pursue demonstrators accused of interfering with police and disorderly conduct, among other charges, if the allegations don't involve "deliberate'' property damage, theft or force against another person, or threats of force.

As for the murders, KOIN reported that they may have stemmed from an ongoing dispute between the suspect and victims. Leaton and Hobbs' roommate told police they were renting a unit in a fourplex from Nelson, who claimed to be the owner of the building, the station said, citing court records. But when the three roommates learned Nelson actually was squatting there, the trio changed the locks to their unit, which angered Nelson, KOIN reported, citing records.

More from the station:

On the afternoon they were murdered, surveillance video captured Hobbs and Leaton going into the basement of the building, where the water control is located, according to court records. The pair came back upstairs, but then went back just a minute later. Shortly after that, surveillance video captured Leaton running out of the basement, stumbling and shouting for help before falling down. Bystanders rushed to her aid, but she did not survive.

Both Leaton and Hobbs had been stabbed numerous times, according to the medical examiner. A police officer said he found Hobbs' body on the stairs, with a trail of blood leading to the basement. The officer also allegedly found a long-bladed knife and "significant amount of blood" inside the basement.

Nelson listed the lower left unit of the fourplex as his address the night he was arrested at the protest, police said. The surveillance video from June 16 allegedly captured him leaving through the back door of that unit after the stabbing, as bystanders were trying to save Leaton. Detectives found blood stains on the inside and outside handles of the door, according to court records.

Nelson told authorities he had been homeless, living in the Portland area for the two months before the crime, KOIN reported, citing court records for the murder arrest. His next court appearance is scheduled on Sept. 28, the station said.