RENTON, Wash. — The man who called 911 to report his mom’s death is now in custody for her death, according to police.
According to court documents KIRO 7 obtained today, the victim’s 34-year-old son called 911 to say his mom was dead. The probable cause document says when officers arrived, the son, identified as Sean Preston Lowe, was sitting on a couch, scrolling on his phone, in an area outside of the apartment unit.
The documents say a Renton police officer “entered the apartment and found a female face down between the wall and the bed of the bedroom.” According to the court documents, the woman was identified as being Leda Louise Files. The document says “There were distinct marks on her neck that they believed could be consistent with some sort of strangulation.”
The documents go on to say an officer on the scene noted the victim “was bleeding from the nose and slightly from the mouth. There was a spot of liquid, possibly blood, next to Files, but it was not clear what the substance was.
Aid personnel noted that based on the distinct markings seen on Files, as well as the fact it was believed she had not been deceased for long due to body temperature, there was a concern for possible strangulation or foul play.”
The documents say one detective “noted some small red spattering on the back of Lowe’s jacket that he had been wearing when detained by patrol officers.”
At that point, police say they arrested Lowe. Meeghan Black is a representative of the Renton Police Department.
“There were obvious signs of a struggle in the bedroom of the apartment, so officers questioned the 34-year-old, developed probable cause, and arrested him,” Black told KIRO 7 News.
The probable cause document details the arrest, saying “Lowe began to pull his arms away from officers and started to kick his feet and legs. At this point, it took numerous officers to detain Lowe in handcuffs. Upon successfully detaining Lowe, he was read his Miranda Rights from a department-issued code book. Lowe did not respond to any questions when read his rights, and his behavior was noted by patrol officers as strange. It was believed this could be due to mental illness or intoxication via drugs.”
The documents go on to explain an officer on the scene “noted a glass pipe, about the size of a pen, with a bulbous end as she entered the primary bedroom where Files had been found. The pipe was specifically on a dresser or desk that was inside the bedroom.”
According to the documents, on the drive from the apartments to the police station, “Lowe was agitated and erratic but said he was ‘sorry’.” They go on to say “Lowe was speaking at a rapid pace and was tripping over his sentences. Lowe did not seem to be able to properly engage with investigators.”
A lawyer appeared on Lowe’s behalf today around 2:30 p.m. The judge did not set a bail but said there would be a second appearance Thursday.
Police say prosecutors are expected to file murder charges at that appearance.