Details to be released in Wallingford homicide after suspect arrested

Seattle Police arrested a suspect in the murder of Wallingford resident Lita Byrnes.

Ian Flaherty, 25, was booked into the King County Jail on Thursday for investigation of homicide.

Police say Flaherty and Byrnes were roommates.

Flaherty is scheduled to appear in court this afternoon. Any new information will be on KIRO 7 News at 5 p.m. 

Byrnes was stabbed to death in her home in the 1300 block of North 43rd Street, according to the medical examiner.

Investigators say she was murdered on March 12. Her body was discovered when a friend went to check on her.

Flaherty is from East Wenatchee. It’s unclear how long he’s been living in Seattle.

KIRO 7 did a background check and found Flaherty has only had three traffic infractions. According to his profile on Facebook, he works for UPS.

Police aren't giving many details about his arrest, but credit extensive work by detectives and the crime lab.

Last month, KIRO 7 crews watched crime scene investigators collecting evidence at the house.

On Thursday, word of the arrest spread quickly through the neighborhood and online. Byrnes was the administrator for at least three community Facebook pages including Wallingford and Fremont.

Neighbors were relieved to hear of the arrest.

"I'm relieved first of all because it's been very worrisome in the neighborhood, not knowing, and living just a block from here," said neighbor Megan Posey.

Flaherty is being held in the King County Jail and is expected to appear before a judge on Friday afternoon.

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