Wanted husband and wife pair finally nabbed

The crime seemed more like a modern adaption of Bonnie and Clyde than a real incident, especially given a sequence of events that included a San Bernardino prison escape, the attempted murder of a Los Angeles Sheriff’s police officer, and an ensuing manhunt that crossed state lines.

Darnell Washington

But the real-life husband and wife duo of Darnell and Tania Washington were arrested in the Seattle, Washington area October 5^th after being at large for some of those crimes for over a month.

On August 28^th, 24-year-old Darnell Keith Washington escaped the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center in Devore with the aid of his wife, 25-year-old Tania Washington. Darnell Washington was in custody for Robbery and Receiving Stolen Property and was scheduled in court on September 14^th.

On September 2^nd, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department put out another news release warning local citizens that the Washingtons were armed and dangerous and possibly driving a 1994 white Ford Explorer.

Tania Washington

That same day at approximately 9:00 AM, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy assigned to the Temple Sheriff’s Station approached a suspicious looking vehicle in South El Monte. It was then that Darnell Washington allegedly emerged from the back end of the vehicle and pointed a shotgun at the officer.

Gunfire was exchanged and the deputy was shot in the skirmish. The Washingtons fled the scene after carjacking a vehicle. Shortly thereafter, the suspects abandoned the vehicle in South Gate and carjacked another vehicle, a light blue 1994 Plymouth Grand Voyager.

Over a month later on October 10^th, King County Sheriff’s in Washington state pursued a stolen vehicle. The pursuit ended when the vehicle was wrecked in a collision. Upon detaining the drivers, the deputies were able to identify the Washingtons and connect them to the crimes in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. The Contra Costa Times has reported that the car they were driving in Seattle has been linked to the murder of retired schoolteacher Susie Ko, and Hercules police are listing the couple as “persons of interest” in that investigation.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau investigators are currently responding to Seattle, Washington. According to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s PIO Nicole Nishida, more information will be made available upon conference with the handling detectives.

Read More:

Daily Bulletin: Glen Helen escapee, wife captured near Seattle

Contra Costa Times: Susie Ko slaying: Hercules detectives await interview with ‘persons of interest’

CrimeVoice: Armed escapee shoots LA Sheriff’s deputy