Suspect charged with murder in woman?s death

IOWA CITY (AP) ? One day after he was captured while trying to flee from police, a man was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder in the death of a 30-year-old northern Iowa woman.

Tyrone Washington Jr., 39, was being held in the Scott County Jail in Davenport on a $500,000 bond after being charged in Monday?s death of Justina Marie Smith of Northwood, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said.

An autopsy conducted by the state medical examiner Tuesday concluded that Smith was a homicide victim who died from ?multiple sharp force injuries,? the department said.

Smith was found suffering severe injuries at Swensrud Park in Northwood, where she had called 911 seeking help at 11:41 a.m. Monday. Northwood is a city of 1,900 in northern Iowa near the Minnesota border.

Worth County deputies found Smith suffering from severe injuries and learned that Washington had fled the scene and taken her car, a silver 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix. Smith was transported to Mercy Hospital North Iowa in Mason City but later died from her injuries.

Authorities issued an all-points bulletin seeking to locate Washington and the vehicle. About four hours later, a state trooper spotted the vehicle heading eastbound on Interstate 80 between Iowa City and Davenport, more than 220 highway miles from the park. The trooper tried to pull over Washington but a high-speed pursuit involving several agencies ensued.

Authorities eventually made unspecified ?intentional contact? with Washington?s vehicle, which left the roadway near Walcott, driving through corn and bean fields until stopping in a ditch. Washington was arrested. The Pontiac and state patrol vehicles suffered damage from the contact.

Mike Krapfl, a special agent in charge with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said he believed Washington and the victim were prior acquaintances, and officers were conducting interviews to determine the extent of their relationship.

It wasn?t clear whether Washington, who is listed in a state patrol report as being from Mason City, has an attorney.