Detectives say they have probable cause to arrest Kyle Cathcart after a Friday morning death inside a shared home.
COVINGTON, WA — King County sheriff’s detectives are searching for 41-year-old Kyle W. Cathcart after a family member was found dead Friday morning inside a Covington home and another person was taken to a hospital.
The search moved into a new phase Sunday after the King County Sheriff’s Office said detectives had developed probable cause to arrest Cathcart in connection with the death. The case began as an emergency call to a residential neighborhood near 186th Place Southeast and Southeast 258th Place. Authorities have not released the name, age or gender of the person who died, and the King County Medical Examiner’s Office is expected to make the identification after family notification and autopsy work.
Deputies from Covington, Maple Valley and unincorporated King County responded Friday morning to the neighborhood, where police vehicles blocked nearby roads while investigators worked at the home. A sheriff’s office spokesperson said the call came in around 7 a.m., with one local report placing the response at about 7:20 a.m. The initial call was described by one outlet as a possible stabbing, but detectives have not publicly confirmed the manner of death. “This is now an active homicide investigation; one person is dead and another was taken to a Covington hospital,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson said in an update Friday.
The Major Crimes Unit took over the case and processed the scene for evidence. Detectives later said Cathcart and the person who died lived in the same home and were family members. Authorities said Cathcart was hurt during the incident and could have an obvious black eye and a bandaged hand or bandaged hands. He was last believed to be wearing a black sweater and gray sweatpants. KIRO 7 reported that neighbors said a husband and father of three was covered in blood and taken from the home by ambulance, while three children were taken to a neighbor’s house and did not appear to be hurt.
Officials have released few details about what happened inside the home before deputies arrived. They have not said what weapon, if any, was used. They also have not said whether the injured person was Cathcart, another resident or another family member. The sheriff’s office said Friday that the event was contained and that there was no ongoing danger to the public at that time. By Sunday, however, detectives were asking for help locating Cathcart, saying his whereabouts were unknown and that he was likely on foot. The agency said sightings or information should be routed to 911 or the sheriff’s office nonemergency line.
The case unfolded in a quiet residential area of Covington, a south King County city that contracts with the King County Sheriff’s Office for police services. The neighborhood sits near Highway 18 and is made up largely of single-family homes. Residents told local reporters the police response was unusual for the area. Kendra Smith, who lives across the street, told KIRO 7 she had not known the family to have problems. “No, they have always been very kind, fun,” Smith said. “They’re always outside and involved, kids are always out playing.”
No charges had been announced as of Monday morning because Cathcart had not been reported in custody. Probable cause means detectives believe there is a legal basis to arrest him, but prosecutors generally file charges after reviewing police reports and available evidence. If Cathcart is arrested, he could make an initial court appearance in King County District Court or Superior Court, depending on the booking and charging process. The medical examiner’s ruling on the cause and manner of death will be a key part of the case file.
Investigators also are expected to continue reviewing evidence collected at the home, including any physical evidence from the scene and statements from witnesses or neighbors. The sheriff’s office has not said whether it recovered surveillance video, 911 audio or other records that show the timeline before deputies arrived. Road closures near the home were tied to the active scene Friday as detectives worked through the property. Authorities said the identity of the deceased person would not be released until the medical examiner completed formal steps and next of kin were notified.
By Monday, the search for Cathcart remained the central public development in the homicide case. Detectives had named him as the person they want to arrest, but many details of the killing, the injury and the family relationship had not been released. The next major updates are expected from the sheriff’s office, the medical examiner or King County prosecutors if an arrest is made.
Author note: Last updated May 4, 2026.