Kirkland Murder Suspect Was Victim's Business Associate: Police

KIRKLAND, WA — The 35-year-old Redmond man suspected of killing another man at a Kirkland home early Friday morning was the victim's business and personal associate, according to police. Saif R. Al-Obaidi is being held at the King County Jail on charges of second-degree murder, assault, and burglary.

According to police, Al-Obaidi broke into a 131st Avenue Northeast home at around 2 a.m. on Friday. Children living in the home called 911, and were able to get out of the home unhurt. An adult woman living at the home, however, was stabbed about 18 times before she was able flee outside, according to police. Al-Obaidi stabbed a man living in the home to death, police said.

The woman told police she knew Al-Obaidi, and police identified him as a business and personal associate of the man in the home who was killed. Kirkland police had been to the home earlier in the week for another incident.

After the woman identified Al-Obaidi from a drivers license photo, police went to his Northeast 63rd Way apartment in Redmond and arrested him.

Al-Obaidi is being held on $2 million bail and is set to appear in court on June 6.