Everett Police arrested a suspect days after a missing landlord was found murdered in an alley, wrapped in plastic.
The case began on Wednesday, Nov. 5, when 71-year-old Daniel Lytton was stabbed to death inside a residence in the 2600 block of Grand Avenue during daytime hours, Everett Police said.
Lytton was reported missing that same day, and officers discovered his body in an alley the following morning, Thursday, Nov. 6. He was wrapped in plastic and other material, police said.
Major Crimes detectives launched a full investigation, gathering statements from multiple individuals, conducting an extensive examination of the crime scene, and analyzing additional evidence, police said.
Through that work, detectives identified the suspect as David Lee Craft and developed probable cause to charge him with second-degree murder, police said.
Craft was Lytton’s tenant who contacted Lytton about a toilet issue on the day of Lytton’s murder, court records show. He was taken into custody the night of Tuesday, Nov. 11.
“It appears this was a murder with no apparent motive or provocation. It’s alleged the defendant stabbed his landlord multiple times in the neck, broke his ribs, broke his nose, and badly beat him, and left the alleged victim in a snowboarding bag in an alley on video,” a prosecuting attorney said in court Wednesday.
Craft was remanded to the Snohomish County jail on a $2 million bond.
Anyone with information about the homicide is asked to call the Everett Police Department Tip Line at 425-257-8450 or contact Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Additional details about Lytton’s life were not immediately available. Loved ones are invited to share a statement, funeral details, and/or photos by emailing michael@pugetpress.com.
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