t

Kent Police make arrest in May 13 killing of SeaTac woman

Officers arrest boyfriend for investigation of second-degree murder with domestic violence enhancement

Kent Police arrested a 25-year-old man on Tuesday, May 23 for investigation of killing his 25-year-old girlfriend May 13.

At about 8 a.m. on May 23, patrol officers were handling an unrelated call in the 300 block of Second Avenue South downtown when they spotted a suspect in the homicide of Maria Apodaca-Tift, of SeaTac, according to a May 24 Kent Police statement. The address is near the Kent Police station.

Officers contacted the man, the boyfriend of Apodaca-Tift, and took him into custody without incident, according to police. Police did not release a hometown for the man.

Apodaca-Tift died from left hemothorax due to blunt force injury of torso and the manner of death is homicide, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Apodaca-Tift died following a dispute with a man at a 7-Eleven store, 22422 83rd Ave. S., according to Kent Police. Officers responded at about 1:39 a.m. May 13 in reference to a woman inside the store who needed medical aid. Apodaca-Tift died at the scene.

Kent’s Homicide and Violent Crimes Investigators quickly determined through interviews and evidence collection that the death was a homicide. They worked tirelessly for nine days to identify the suspect, develop probable cause, secure an arrest warrant from the court, and locate the suspect, according to police.

Once the warrant was secured, detectives worked with patrol officers to aggressively search for the man. The man is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday, May 24 in King County with potential charges of second-degree murder with a domestic violence enhancement, according to police.

The death of Apodaca-Tift is the seventh homicide in 2023 in Kent. The city had 11 homicides in 2022, 14 in 2021, eight in 2020, four in 2019 and seven in 2018.

Domestic violence resources

• Local: dawnrising.org

• Regional crisis line: 866-427-4747 or crisisconnections.org/24-hour-crisis-line

• National DV Hotline/multiple languages: 800-799-7233


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Kent School Board members Tim Clark and Meghin Margel. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Kent School Board recall group files for reconsideration

Petitioners take next step after judge dismissed petitions to recall Meghin Margel, Tim Clark

t
Future female firefighters learn key skills at workshop

32 women participate in firefighting, emergency medical services training

t
Kent pedestrian killed in April 21 crash identified

Vicente Islas Gomez, 50, died of multiple blunt force injuries along Central Avenue South

Courtesy File Photo, WSDOT
Section of State Route 167 in Kent to be fully closed night of April 24

From 10 p.m. Thursday, April 24 to 4 a.m. Friday, April 25 between S. 180th Street and S. 212th Street

t
Kent man wanted in DV incident reportedly ‘has left the area’

Avon Cobb still on the run; flashbang device might have caused fire at Auburn business where he fled

Courtesy Photo, Comcast
Some Comcast, Xfinity Business customers lose service in Kent

Vandals damage cable line; service expected to be restored by 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22

The city of Kent Corrections Facility, 1230 Central Ave. S. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Female inmate, 45, dies while in custody at city of Kent jail

Found unresponsive Tuesday morning, April 22

t
Kent male pedestrian, 45, struck and killed by vehicle

Man was crossing Monday night, April 21 in the 900 block of Central Avenue South

t
WSDOT plans nighttime lane closures in Kent on I-5, SR 516

April 21-27: Northbound I-5, certain directions of SR 516

t
Kent Police to host prescription drug take back day

Drop off medicines from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Saturday, April 26 outside of Kent Police Department

t
33rd Legislative District sets Telephone Town Hall for April 29

District includes part of Kent; call hosted by Sen. Orwall and State Reps. Gregerson and Obras

Kent Police officers will carry the latest Taser 10 model produced by Axon Enterprises. The gun can fire more shots and at a longer distance than the older model. COURTESY PHOTO, Axon Enterprises
Kent Police add latest Taser model to officers’ equipment

Taser 10 can shoot more shots at a longer distance; department also adds dash cameras