A Kent man arrested in a Renton murder investigation is being held on $5 million bail after a court found probable cause Wednesday, Aug. 5 for his arrest on investigation of second-degree murder domestic violence and first-degree assault, according to first appearance documents and information from King County prosecutors.
Christopher John Mott, 42, was arrested early Tuesday near Williams Ave South and North Riverside Drive in Renton, according to the first appearance document. The document lists Mott’s last known address in Kent.
The case stems from a Renton police response late Monday to Cedar River Terrace Apartments, 51 Burnett Ave S., after 911 callers reported either a possible vehicle crash into the building or a possible gunshot into a glass door, according to a probable cause statement by Renton police Detective Adele O’Rourke.
Officers found a shattered glass door and a twisted metal parking sign outside the door, according to the document. Police later reviewed surveillance footage that they said showed Mott damaging the front door with the sign shortly before midnight.
According to the probable cause statement, officers tried to contact Mott outside the complex, and he ran from police. During the encounter, police said Mott produced a long black object and later stabbed Officer Kauppila in the right eye as the officer reached for him. A knife was found near Mott after he was taken into custody, according to the document.
Police said Officer Kauppila was awaiting surgery for a significant injury.
While in custody, Mott made a statement that raised concern about the welfare of his mother, according to the probable cause statement. Officers went to apartment 316, where they found blood smears in the elevator and on the unit’s door handle assembly before finding the body of an adult woman inside.
The woman is believed to be Colleen Marie McCue, though her identity had not been confirmed at the time of the probable cause statement, according to the document. Officers reported seeing multiple stab wounds, injuries to the woman’s hands and a significant amount of blood.
The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab and the King County Medical Examiner’s Office were processing additional evidence, according to the probable cause statement.
At Mott’s first appearance hearing Wednesday, the court set bail at $5 million, the amount requested by King County prosecutors, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Prosecutors said a first appearance hearing after an arrest is not the same as a felony charging decision, which has a higher burden of proof. Prosecutors said they had not yet received a felony case referral from police but anticipated receiving it by Thursday, Aug. 6, for a charging decision.
Mott remained in the King County Jail on the bail amount set by the court.
Defendants are innocent unless proven guilty in court.
