Fugitive arrested in murder of 20-year-old Lake Stevens woman
Anthony Garver
SEATTLE -- A man who was described by U.S. Marshals as being mentally unstable has been arrested in connection with the June 17 homicide of a 20-year-old Lake Stevens woman identified as Phillipa S. Evans-Lopez.
Anthony Garver, 26, who also uses the names Anthony Burke and Deryk Garver, will be arraigned in Snohomish County on charges of first-degree murder and escape. Garver's history includes making anti-government threats, failing to report to his probation officer and he is known to use military style weapons and explosives. In 2009, Garver threatened to blow up a state building in Spokane and kill a judge and prosecutor.
On June 17, police responded to the a home at 9225 15th St. SE in Lake Stevens and found Evans-Lopez inside. She had been tied to a bed and stabbed.
Police searched a vehicle in the driveway the following day and found Evans-Lopez's purse inside and a McDonald's receipt from June 14. Video footage from the McDonald's showed Evans-Lopez with a white male and it appeared that the two were acquainted with each other.
On June 27, investigators were alerted by a forensic scientist at the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory that some of the electric cords that had been used to tie up Evans-Lopez contained DNA that linked them to Garver. Photographs of Garver were then sent to a deputy marshal in Spokane, who identified the man seen with Evans-Lopez as Garver.
After interviewing Garver's mother in Spokane, authorities also learned that he equipped himself with a falsified passport, bullet-proof vest, ammunition, GPS devices and numerous other items that would assist him in carrying out on his previous threats to set off explosives and cause mass casualties.
On July 2, Snohomish County Sheriff's deputies arrested Garver at an Everett fast-food restaurant. During his interview with investigators, Garver tried to convince police he was Deryk rather than Anthony Garver, and denied knowing Evans-Lopez or killing her.
He was then held and booked on first-degree murder and escape charges.