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Washougal man arrested after allegedly stabbing, killing wife

WASHOUGAL — A Washougal man who allegedly stabbed his wife repeatedly and told emergency dispatchers he wanted officers to shoot him is now facing an allegation of first-degree murder.

Washougal police initially arrested 56-year-old Robert W. Burdick on suspicion of first-degree assault Tuesday morning. The charge was amended, however, after his wife, Linda Burdick 49, died later that morning following surgery for her injuries at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, according to a Washougal Police Department news release. She had suffered multiple stab wounds to the upper body.

Officers did not fire their weapons during the incident. They forced their way inside the couple’s apartment and took Robert Burdick into custody. He is scheduled to appear Wednesday morning in Clark County Superior Court.

A man, later identified as Robert Burdick, called 911 at 2:05 a.m. from an apartment complex in the 600 block of West Lookout Ridge Drive in Washougal. He said he was armed with butcher knives and holding his wife hostage in their home, the police department said.

“The man told the dispatcher, ‘I want you guys to come here and shoot me,’” police said. The dispatcher could hear what sounded like a struggle going on in the background at that time.

Police responded and spotted light shining from the window of a third-story apartment. Linda Burdick opened the window and yelled for help as officers approached the building, but “a man holding a large knife over his head came up behind the woman and pulled her away from the window,” police said.

Linda Burdick continued to scream for help as officers climbed two flights of stairs. Police entered the apartment, found her husband and reportedly took him into custody without incident.

An investigation is underway. Washougal police are asking anyone who may have pertinent information to call detectives at 360-835-8701.


Source: https://www.columbian.com

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