DES MOINES, Wash. — DNA led police to identify a suspect in the murder of a woman at a Des Moines condominium complex this summer.
On Aug. 4, Des Moines officers were called to the complex near South 219th Street and Seventh Avenue South after a cleaning team found an unconscious woman with injuries to her head and face.
Medics called to the scene tried to save her life, but she died from her injuries.
Court documents identified the woman as Marla Knigge.
According to the documents, she was found about 20 feet from the nearest set of stairs and her keys, a notebook and unopened pack of sigarettes were found near her, leading investigators to believe she had been attacked.
Documents state a pair of tweezers were also found embedded in her neck.
Des Moines Police detectives and Washington State Patrol Crime Lab personnel conducted a thorough investigation. Some of the evidence collected, including DNA, was submitted to the crime lab.
On Oct. 21, DNA results identified Jake Berman as the suspect in Knigge’s death. Detectives found probable cause for second-degree murder charges.
Investigators didn’t have to look far to find Berman, who has a long criminal history.
According to court documents, 14 days before beating Knigge to death, Berman assaulted an unsuspecting 72-year-old neighbor. Documents state he repeatedly kicked and punched the man even after he fell to the pavement, breaking one of his ribs.
Documents state that on April 9th, Berman assaulted guests in the common area of his condo.
On February 5th, Berman assaulted a customer while at Safeway on Pacific Highway South, according to court documents.
He was already jailed on an unrelated charge.
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