The dramatic case of Seattle nurse Ingrid Lyne, whose dismembered remains were found in a recycling bin last Saturday, has taken yet another significant turn, as the man she was last seen with, John Charlton, was formally charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday.
The nurse's dismembered parts, which included her head, arm and leg, were recovered on Saturday inside a number of trash bags that were found in the bin of a home. She was last seen going on a date with Charlton the day before, with the pair last seen heading to a Mariners baseball game.
King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg expressed his grief over the brutal crime.
"The tragic murder of Ingrid Lyne has left a family and community in a spiral of grief and anguish. We may never understand why she was killed, but the police and prosecutors working on this case have done a tremendous job of piecing together a solid case against the person we believe to be responsible for her death," he said.
Lyne and Charlton are believed to have met through an online dating site. After being arrested on Monday, Charlton confessed that he had been seeing Lyne for about a month before their fatal date last Saturday. Lyne picked him up on Friday to see a Mariners game, heading to a bar after.
Charlton's statement took a pretty dark turn as he stated that he does not really remember what happened after. According to his statement to the police, he "thinks" they had sex and that Lyne drove him back to Seattle after. He also "thinks" that he ended up sleeping on a sidewalk after the date.
Charlton also admitted that he was currently homeless and that he has a drinking problem.
Charlton's ex-girlfriend, who has not been named as of writing, confirmed with authorities that the suspect did indeed spend the weekend with her. She also stated that he arrived late on Saturday night, and that he had a swollen and injured lip. During that time, Charlton allegedly told her that he got the injuries because he was robbed in the city.
Police also noticed that there were abrasions on Charlton's face and lips. His chest also had a number of small scratches.
If convicted, Charlton could face up to 28 years in jail. He is being held on a $2 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court on April 27.
