In a tragic reminder of the dangers posed by repeat offenders, an eight-time felon, Jahmed Haynes, 48, is accused of brutally ending the life of a beloved 80-year-old Seattle woman, Ruth Dalton, in a shocking carjacking incident on Tuesday. The heinous act, which took place in broad daylight, also led to the senseless killing of Dalton’s cherished dog, Prince.
The incident unfolded around 10 a.m. in the Madison Valley neighborhood, a quiet area just northeast of downtown Seattle. According to Seattle police, Haynes reportedly approached Dalton’s blue Subaru SUV and entered through the passenger side, attempting to force the elderly woman out of her own vehicle. Dalton, a well-known and well-loved figure in her community, struggled against the carjacker, determined to protect both herself and the dogs in her care.
During the struggle, Haynes violently dragged Dalton outside of the car, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and crash into a planter. Bystanders, witnessing the unfolding horror, stopped their cars to help the elderly woman. However, when one brave citizen confronted Haynes, the felon brandished a knife, forcing the would-be rescuer to retreat. As chaos ensued, Haynes reversed the car, tragically running over Dalton and leaving her to die as he fled the scene in her vehicle.
Witnesses immediately attempted CPR, but it was too late. Ruth Dalton, a fixture in the Madison Park neighborhood, was gone. Friends and family were left heartbroken by the loss of a woman who had been such a positive presence in their lives. “She’s somebody that people really loved,” said Susan Lindsay, a close friend of Dalton’s. “She’s been a neighborhood fixture for a long time… she’s going to be so missed.”
Just hours later, around 3 p.m., police received a chilling report of a man harming a dog at Brighton Playfield, located approximately 5.5 miles from the site of the carjacking. Upon arrival, animal control officers found a dog, identified as Prince, Dalton’s dog, brutally stabbed to death. The abandoned Subaru was discovered nearby, further linking Haynes to this unimaginable act of cruelty.
Seattle police wasted no time in apprehending Haynes. His fingerprint was discovered on Dalton’s phone, which was found in the abandoned vehicle. A SWAT team located Haynes near his residence in Capitol Hill and arrested him. Police recovered a bloody knife and the stolen vehicle’s keys during the arrest. He is now in custody at King County Correctional Facility.
Haynes, with a lengthy criminal history, is expected to face charges for first-degree murder under the felony murder rule, as well as animal cruelty in the first degree. His criminal past includes convictions for vehicular homicide, hit-and-run, and robbery, among other serious offenses. This latest tragedy raises serious questions about how someone with such a history was still on the streets.
As Seattle mourns the loss of Ruth Dalton, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the perils of a lenient justice system that too often fails to keep dangerous individuals off the streets. The community will undoubtedly be watching closely to ensure that justice is served for Ruth Dalton and her beloved dog, Prince.
