by KOMO Staff
EVERETT, Wash. - The former boyfriend of a missing Everett woman was arrested Thursday, and detectives said they now believe the woman was a victim of homicide.
The woman, Sherry Harlan, 35, was reported missing Tuesday evening after she missed several days of work.
The ex-boyfriend - identified as Eric James Christensen, 40, of Gold Bar - was arrested for investigation of second-degree murder, and was booked into Snohomish County Jail.
Detectives began focusing on Christensen early on in the investigation based on information provided by friends and neighbors who said Harlan told them her boyfriend had beaten her before.
She told friends she was afraid to break up with him for fear he would come after her and kill her.
Another neighbor reported hearing yelling and fighting on Saturday morning that appeared to come from Harlan's apartment.
Sherry Harlan
Wednesday night detectives served a search warrant on a piece of property in Gold Bar where the ex-boyfriend lives.
Detectives searched Christensen's home and car and discovered bloody clothing that appears to belong to him. He also had numerous scratches on his face, forearms, shoulder and lower back, and a stab wound on his right knee.
The ex-boyfriend was first arrested and booked Thursday morning into the Snohomish County Jail for failure to register as a sex offender. He has a 1990 conviction in Oregon for first-degree sexual abuse and is classified as a Level 1 sex offender.
Christensen has other criminal history as well, including convictions for assault and domestic violence.
Detectives and crime lab investigators also collected a large amount of evidence from Harlan's apartment, in the Cedar Creek Apartments at 11615 Highway 99, on Wednesday.
Portions of vinyl and carpet had been cut out and removed from the apartment, and there was evidence of an attempt to clean up the unit.
Detectives continue to investigate the case. Harlan's body has not yet been found.
On Thursday afternoon, investigators shut down a road in Gold bar Where a burned-out car was found. They have not said whether the car is connected to the Harlan case.
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