Felony Murder Charge In Bonney Lake Body Dumping

BONNEY LAKE, WA - A man who allegedly dumped and tried to burn the body of a Kent woman near Lake Tapps on Oct. 24 was charged Monday with first-degree felony murder. Lance Rougeau, 25, is accused of killing Linda K. Sweezer in her Kent home and then dumping her along a road near Bonney Lake.

Hours after the murder, Auburn police found Sweezer's car parked in a neighborhood about 2 miles from where her body was found. The trunk of the vehicle was covered in blood, according to the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office.

Surveillance video from the home where Sweezer's car was located allegedly shows Rougeau standing on the home's porch. After police confirmed Sweezer's identity, they went to her home and found signs of a struggle. They also found a four-month-old baby girl who was suffering from dehydration. The girl has since been placed in foster care.

Police later arrested Rougeau at his mother's Kent home.

Rougeau allegedly stabbed and strangled Sweezer, according to the Pierce County Medical Examiner. He is being held on $1 million bond.

Image via the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office