Update for July 8
Synae Araya McMillon-Cooper, 21, Threadgill's co-defendant in the murder case of Jennifer Walstrand, pleaded not guilty as well on July 7. McMillon's case setting is on July 20, same day as Threadgill's.
Update for July 6
According to King County Prosecutors, Daniel Threadgill pleaded not guilty to first degree murder charges on July 5. Threadgill's case setting is scheduled for July 20 (where they decide on a trial date).
Threadgill's co-defendant Synae Araya McMillon-Cooper's arraignment was postponed until later this week.
Update for June 30
Daniel Alexander Threadgill, 23, and Synae Araya McMillon-Copper (referred to as McMillon from here on out), 21, have been charged with first degree murder in the slaying of Jennifer Walstrand in Des Moines in August 2010.
Charging documents released on June 24 by the Superior Court of Washington for King County reveal Des Moines detectives used anonymous tips, witness testimony and wiretap surveillance in building a case against the accused.
Walstrand, 28 years old at the time of her death, was found brutally stabbed and beaten in her Des Moines apartment on August 31, 2010. Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott M. O’Toole requested that bail be denied for Threadgill and McMillon, with an alternative of $5 million bail for each defendant.
In O’Toole’s words, “The vicious attack on Jennifer Walstrand – 63 stab wounds, in addition to the substantial injuries from having her skull stomped on – and the defendants’ total lack of remorse are further evidence of the extreme danger that they present to the community.”
Walstrand’s body is found, defendants’ initial denial
According to charging documents, just after midnight when August 30th rolled into the 31st Des Moines police received a call from the landlord of a triplex on 25th Ave S. The landlord said a dog had been barking inside the middle unit and she was concerned for the tenant’s safety. Police arrived and found Walstrand deceased.
Defendant McMillon lived right next door to Walstrand in the Des Moines triplex and when police interviewed her she said she was involved in prostitution with Walstrand and identified their pimp as a person of interest. She denied any involvement and told police she was with defendant Threadgill the night of the murder. Threadgill, who works in “promotions,” told police McMillon and he had spent the evening watching television at McMillon’s grandmother’s house.
Tips start coming in
On January 7, 2011 police received information that McMillon had arrived at the home of her stepmother after the murder wearing bloody clothes. At that time she told her family that a “trick” involving Walstrand and she “went bad” and she was able to escape, according to charging documents.
On May 17, 2011 Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound received information from an anonymous tipster (referred to as “John” in the probable cause documents) that led to the big break in the case. The tipster identified Walstrand and “Aleaha” (identified as McMillon) as “high-end” prostitutes who worked for a pimp named “Calvin.” The tipster alleged McMillon was jealous of Walstrand and devised a plan with Threadgill to kill her in her apartment (a cooperating witness later told police McMillon was angry that Walstrand and her pimp had taken money from her) “John” identified two other young women allegedly recruited by McMillon and Threadgill to carry out the murder plot. Police worked with the informant over the course of several weeks and identified the two other women involved.
Confessions and a wiretap
After initially denying any involvement, the first cooperating witness admitted to meeting up with the defendants (along with the second cooperating witness). Both women told police they stayed in the car until they heard screams coming from Walstrand’s apartment. They allegedly came upon a horrible scene of Threadgill repeatedly stabbing the victim with a knife while McMillon repeatedly said, “She’s not dead yet.” Threadgill then allegedly stomped on Walstand’s head several times.
The witnesses say they left the house without the defendants and shortly thereafter starting receiving phone calls from McMillon allegedly warning them to say nothing to police. Threadgill allegedly told the women Walstrand’s death was “nothing, I am from Philly.”
After telling police their stories, the witnesses agreed to wear a wire and speak with the defendants about the murder. One witness spoke with Threadgill who “generally denied any involvement” and said he had fallen asleep at McMillon’s grandmother’s house, so it was possible she had gone out while he was asleep, according to court records.
Court documents show McMillon was more forthcoming under wiretap surveillance, allegedly telling a cooperating witness when asked if she felt remorse for the murder, “I really don’t … I think about it. It was either me or (Walstrand).” McMillon went on to talk about being beaten by her pimp while Walstrand sat by and did nothing, leading to another possible motive.
Police arrested McMillon later that day and under interrogation eventually admitted to witnessing Threadgill murdering Walstrand, but said she was not involved and they had only gone over to retrieve some clothes.
Threadgill was arrested the same day but stuck to his story that he had been with McMillon all night at her grandmother’s house.
This story will be updated as court dates are set for the defendants.
Original post from June 22:
The Seattle PI reports a man and woman in their 20s have been arrested for investigation of murder in the August 2010 killing of 28-year-old Jennifer Walstrand.
According to the PI, Walstrand was found stabbed to death in her apartment on 25th Ave S. and a recent tip from Crime Stoppers gave Des Moines police the information they needed to arrest a 23-year-old man and 21-year-old woman.
Police told the PI the investigation is still active and more arrests may be coming.
Walstrand was reportedly involved in prostitution and drug use before her murder, but family members said she was trying to get her life back on track.
