Latest News, News UPDATE: This story has been updated to reflect the death of Linda Burdick and charges of first-degree murder against her husband, Robert Burdick.
A Washougal man is facing charges of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his wife.
Robert Warner Burdick, 56, was arraigned in Clark County Superior Court Wednesday for allegedly holding his wife, Linda Burdick, 49, hostage early Tuesday morning before stabbing her multiple times.
Linda Burdick died at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center Tuesday following surgery for injuries she sustained in the attack.
The murder began with a 911 call around 2 a.m., Tuesday. Police said in a news release that Burdick told a 911 dispatcher he was armed with butcher knives and holding his wife hostage in their West Lookout Ridge Drive residence. The 911 dispatcher told police it sounded as if a struggle was occurring.
Burdick also told the dispatcher that he wanted police to come and shoot him, according to the news release.
When officers arrived, they saw lights turned out inside Burdick’s third-story apartment.
According to police reports, as officers approached the apartment building, they saw an adult female open a window and heard her yell for help.
Police said they also saw a man “holding a large knife over his head” come up to the woman and pull her away from the window.
Police said they forced entry into the apartment and could hear a woman screaming.
Once inside, officers found Linda Burdick with multiple stab wounds to her upper body.
Police took Robert Burdick into custody “without incident.” Linda Burdick was transported by ambulance to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, where she underwent surgery, but later died from her injuries.
Burdick was initially booked for first-degree assault. Those charges changed to first-degree murder after the death of Linda Burdick on Tuesday.
A Clark County Superior Court judge set Robert Burdick’s bail at $2 million Wednesday.
