Seattle, WA
Judge rules accused carjacker competent, denies bail in Seattle dog walker murder case
Man accused of killing beloved dog walker found competent
Jahmed Haynes, he man accused of killing a beloved 80-year-old dog walker in Madison Valley, has been found competent.
SEATTLE, Wash. – A judge has found Jahmed Haynes, the man accused of murdering beloved 80-year-old dog walker Ruth Dalton in Madison Valley last August, competent to stand trial. The court’s decision came after months of debate surrounding his mental health and whether he could adequately face the charges against him.
Dalton’s family expressed relief at the court’s ruling, with her granddaughter Melanie Roberts stating, “I’m really relieved that finally through the smoke, the truth was seen, and that he is competent.”
According to court documents, Haynes allegedly carjacked Dalton while she was walking dogs in the neighborhood. He is accused of dragging her with her own car before running her over. Haynes is also charged with animal cruelty for the violent killing of Dalton’s dog, Chico.
Prosecutors presented a Department of Social and Health Services report dated December 24, 2024, which deemed Haynes competent.
“We have a DSHS report which opines he is competent to proceed, so we’re asking your honor to find him competent today,” argued Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Alexandra Logan.
Judge David Keenan ruled Haynes competent as he was present in court in a wheelchair, handcuffed and shackled. However, FOX 13 and other news outlets were not allowed to film his face, as his defense argued the chance to a fair trial, and potential contamination of the jury should his likeness be recorded.
“I do find that identity is an issue in this case,” Keenan said.
No Bail Hold: Extensive Criminal History
Thursday’s competency hearing was just the beginning, as the defense pleaded not guilty and requested Haynes’ bail be set at $50,000. The initial case was set for a ‘no bail’ hold.
Prosecutors argued Haynes’ criminal record includes six felony convictions dating back to 1983, including vehicular homicide and robbery in 1999. Prosecutors also detailed incidents where Haynes assaulted corrections officers at Monroe State Penitentiary in 2005 while serving a prison sentence, it resulted in a 108-month consecutive sentence. These convictions and charges would make this Haynes’ third strike under Washington state’s persistent offender statute, potentially resulting in a life sentence if convicted.
Deputy Prosecutor Brent Kling argued against reducing bail, saying, “His behavior in this case, coupled with his history, coupled with the charges that he is facing now, demonstrate that he is capable of committing incredible acts of violence and that he has a propensity for violence that unquestionably shows that he is a danger to the community.”
“I’m denying bail in this matter given the incredibly violent allegations here, they’re very serious along with the defendant’s previous convictions,” Keenan said.
Family’s Plea for Justice
Melanie Roberts delivered an emotional plea to the court, urging the judge to maintain the no-bail hold.
“I plead with the court to not allow him to prey on us acting victims in the real world. Please continue no-bail hold so my family and our community can rest easier and keep what little peace we have felt in the past four months,” Roberts said.
A small victory for Dalton’s loved ones.
“I’m confident he will be found to be guilty eventually,” Roberts said. “He doesn’t deserve to be on the street. We don’t deserve for him to be on the street to be a menace to the rest of us. He’s not going to be a danger to anyone else’s grandmother or mother, brother, sister, dog, everybody’s safe from him, and it’s huge victory for me and my family and our community and everybody.”
Reflecting on the pain her family has endured, Roberts shared a poignant memory of her grandmother, recounting a recent moment where she saw a double rainbow and felt her grandmother’s presence.
“This is our rain right now. And my rainbow might not be as bright as it used to be, but we’ll still get our rainbow,” Roberts said.
The court’s ruling marks the first significant step toward justice for Dalton’s family.
Dalton’s family vowed to attend every hearing to honor her memory. “If he’s here, I’m here,” Roberts said. “I look forward to justice being all the way served in this matter.”
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Seattle, WA
Seattle fans pack waterfront hours early as USA defeats Australia, advances in World Cup
SEATTLE — Soccer fans descended on Seattle’s waterfront well before kickoff Friday, staking out their spots early to watch a highly anticipated World Cup matchup at Seattle Stadium between the United States and Australia. That patience paid off as Team USA won the match and now advances to the knockout round.
The atmosphere at Pier 62 was electric from the start, with fans lining up for prime viewing positions, whether down on the water’s edge or taking in the sweeping scene from the waterfront overlook above.
“I mean, look at all these people that are here hours beforehand to celebrate this incredible game,” said Paul Hanson, who was rooting for Team USA. “The hairs are going up on the arm.”
The energy was a draw in itself.
“The energy is amazing, everyone’s in a great mood, it’s just a lot of fun to be down here,” Maggie McNeil said.
Not everyone in the crowd was wearing red, white, and blue.
Lizzie Manning hails from Melbourne, Australia, and is now living in the Pacific Northwest.
Manning told KOMO News she hasn’t been back home in nearly a decade, but taking in the U.S.A-Australia match with the waterfront crowd gave her a taste of it.
“Whenever I see another Australian I’m like, ‘Aussie Aussie Aussie, oy oy oy,’” she said. “I feel so close to home. I need a meat pie, life’s good.”
“I’ve met so many people who are visiting from other countries,” Seattle resident Maddie Chaplain said. “I sat next to a couple yesterday who was eating dumplings for the first time from Argentina, that was so awesome.”
With Team USA advancing, fans like Aaron Olson say they’ll be back for more.
“USA’s gonna win it,” Olson said. “I will come down here every game. This is spectacular.”
The World Cup watch parties continue on Pier 62 throughout the tournament. They are free and open to the public with online registration, but capacity is limited.
Seattle News Weekly S1E44: FIFA Frenzy hits the PNW
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is off and running as Seattle prepares to host the United States vs. Australia match on Friday. With more matches to be played in the Emerald City after that, FOX 13’s David Rose, Dan Griffin and Austin Lane are taking a closer look at the biggest stories surrounding the international tournament. Dan is hearing from fans on Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s decision to turn on CCTV cameras during the World Cup, Austin is taking a deeper dive into why ties are a good thing in the group stage, and David revisits the lessons learned from the first match hosted in Seattle between Egypt and Belgium.
SEATTLE – The FIFA World Cup has taken Seattle by storm, bringing global excitement to our city and visitors from across the world.
On this week’s episode of the ‘Seattle News Weekly’ podcast, David Rose, Dan Griffin and Austin Lane discuss the top headlines of the week that have emerged alongside the buzz about the FIFA World Cup 2026.
A Massive Tournament Expansion
The hosts open the podcast with a discussion on how historically large this year’s FIFA World Cup is compared to years past. Expanded to 48 teams (up from 32), the tournament features a record 104 matches over 39 days across 16 host cities. Seattle is hosting six of those matches.
Austin explains the value of “ties” in the group stage—especially with the new format where 32 teams advance to the knockout stage instead of 16—meaning a single point from a tie carries significant weight.
At the time of recording, the US had already defeated Paraguay and is preparing to face Australia at “Seattle Stadium,” where a win would guarantee advancement.
Transit Tactics
Dan Griffin reports on the city’s transit system, noting that while the light rail is moving a massive influx of people smoothly, transit authorities are actively “throttling” passengers.
This practice involves controlling crowd flow onto platforms to ensure safety, which has caused wait times of over an hour for some fans on TikTok. Transit officials recommend that fans walk to stations slightly further away from the stadium district to get moving faster.
The CCTV Security Debate
The hosts talk about how security is a major focal point. The FBI has already had to confiscate drones being flown illegally downtown. More prominently, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson activated controversial closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the Stadium District following “general but credible threats” identified by law enforcement.
While an activist group called Community, Not Cameras expressed fears that the surveillance puts vulnerable populations at risk due to federal agency presence, visitors and fans interviewed largely welcomed the extra layer of security. The cameras are expected to be turned off after the World Cup concludes.
Cultural Celebrations and Fan Experiences
The hosts play a clip from reporter Lauren Donovan who provides a colorful look at the fan festivities happening in the city. She highlights the “March to the Match,” describing Monday morning where Belgian fans swarmed Victory Hall alongside middle school band directors from the Stanwood-Camano district who were recruited to drum for them.
She also joins celebrating Egyptian fans, whose match against Belgium ended in an enthusiastic tie. The hosts note that international fans (like those from Australia) are already flooding local attractions, including Seattle Mariners baseball games, turning the sporting event into a broader West Coast vacation.
Seattle News Weekly is a podcast that goes in depth and gives context to the stories that matter to the western Washington community. Check back every Thursday for a new episode on your favorite podcast platform, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, Amazon Music, TuneIn and Audible or YouTube.
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To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
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