MONROE – September 17, 2010 at 10:20 am: The Monroe Police Department has made an arrest in the Angela Pettifer homicide that was discovered on August 15, 2010. Michael N. Benjamin, age 45 of Monroe was taken into custody and placed under arrest for Murder in the Second Degree. The arrest took place in the 2700 block of 89th Street in Lake City where he is currently working.
Benjamin, who lives in the Savoy building in Monroe, rents a business suite on the 2nd floor. The arrest comes after DNA taken from Pettifer’s 3rd floor apartment was returned from the Washington State Patrol’s Crime Laboratory as a positive match to Benjamin. Benjamin became a person of interest after he was identified as the last known person to see Pettifer that night. A search warrant was served on his business suite on August 26th. Benjamin was served with an additional search warrant on August 29th for a “buccal swab” which is a swab of the inside of his cheeks for DNA testing. Results of the tests were returned to the police department on September 16th. The Monroe Police Department has had previous contact with Benjamin, a level one-sex offender through monthly registered sex offender checks.
For additional information on this press release, contact Administrative Director Debbie Willis at 360-794-6300.
