成人X站

CRIME BLOTTER

Son arrested for strangling and smothering mother in Renton home, police say

Jan 24, 2025, 8:31 AM

renton...

Renton police vehicles arrive at the crime scene. (Photo courtesy of 成人X站 7)

(Photo courtesy of 成人X站 7)

A Renton man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder Thursday for allegedly killing his mother in her home.

Sean Preston Lowe, 34, initially called 911 Tuesday morning just after 2 a.m. to report his mother鈥檚 death. He told responding officers he suffered from a seizure and woke up to find his mom dead.

But an autopsy revealed his mother, Leda Louise Files, 62, was “forcefully smothered” and strangled, a prosecutor wrote in court documents obtained by MyNorthwest.

More WA-based crime: Lummi Nation member convicted of assault; 10-year sentence possible

“The autopsy revealed that Leda Louise Files’ hyoid bone, sternum and ribs had been fractured and that her labial frenulum (the small piece of connective tissue between the lips and gum) was torn, which indicates that she was likely forcefully smothered in addition to manually strangled,” the court documents read.

The medical examiner determined the manner of death was homicide.

Court documents also found Lowe, despite sounding “extremely calm” on the initial 911 call reporting his mother’s death, exhibiting “strange” behavior when he was brought in for questioning, something noted by multiple patrol officers. They believed his behavior could be due to mental illness or intoxication via drugs. Drug paraphernalia was later recovered at the crime scene.

After Lowe was transported to the Valley Medical Center to complete the phlebotomy request for toxicology, Detective Hurst stood next to Lowe and after a period of silence, Lowe said, “I killed my mother.”

A search warrant was authorized, with investigators looking into his phone, finding a 15-minute video with what they believed to be Sean recording his mother.

“Files is telling Lowe to leave her alone. Lowe tells Files that he knows when she is going to die. He makes a comment that Files’ ‘is imminent,’ court documents stated regarding the content of the obtained video. “Files keeps telling Lowe to leave her alone. Files says that if Lowe is not going to leave her alone, she is going to leave. Files repeats that she wants Lowe to leave her alone. Files says she does not want to talk to Lowe anymore … Files says, ‘I am being held hostage in my own home.’ When asked why he won’t leave, Lowe says to Files, ‘So I can say goodbye to you.'”

More WA-based crime: Family of Teekah Lewis remains hopeful 26 years after Tacoma abduction

Towards the end of the video, the man in the video said he is God, telling Files she is going to hell, according to the probable cause document.

Lowe has had previous run-ins with the law before this investigation. He has a history of arrests for narcotics possession in Wyoming, alongside a 2016 conviction for assaulting a police officer.

A judge set Lowe’s bail at $5 million, citing concerns that he is a risk to the community and likely to flee.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest and producer of the Seattle Seahawks podcast, . You can read his stories聽here聽and you can email him聽here.

Crime Blotter

Image: People may have a hard time getting around this weekend after WSDOT announced several major ...

MyNorthwest Staff

Driver killed after crash on SR 520; WSP seeking hit-and-run suspect

WSP is looking for the car its thinks is responsible for a hit-and-run on SR 520.聽

7 hours ago

A Bothell Police Department vehicle. (Photo courtesy of the Bothell Police Department)...

Frank Sumrall

16-month-old found safely after taken from legal guardian’s home

A 16-month-old child was found safely after she was taken from the home of their legal guardian in Bothell Thursday morning.

8 hours ago

Photo: Police investigate a Tacoma double shooting....

Frank Lenzi

Leaders concerned over spike in youth homicides in Tacoma

Leaders in Tacoma are concerned about a spike in homicides involving youth, both as victims and as perpetrators.

14 hours ago

Hit-and-run motorcycle fatal crash....

Frank Lenzi

Family offers reward in deadly Seattle motorcycle hit-and-run

A family is offering a cash reward for information leading to an arrest in a deadly motorcycle hit-and-run that killed a 57-year-old woman. The crash happened April 18 at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Way South and South Alaska Street. 聽Min Huang and her husband were walking in a crosswalk when they were […]

1 day ago

tacoma shooting...

Frank Lenzi

Second teenager arrested in Tacoma homicide

A second teenager has been arrested in connection with a February 14 homicide in Tacoma.

1 day ago

road rage...

Frank Lenzi

Road rage incident ends in hate crime in Bellevue, police say

A 52-year-old man is accused of a hate crime after police say he pulled a gun on a woman and two children and used racial slurs after a road rage incident.

1 day ago

Son arrested for strangling and smothering mother in Renton home, police say