The man accused of the gruesome killing of Ingrid Lyne has now been formally charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors filed the charge against Seattle man John Charlton on Wednesday afternoon and also charged him with stealing the mother-of-three's car, NBC News reports. In a press release, prosecutors say he "could face a sentence range of at least 21 to nearly 28 years in prison." They don't explain why Charlton, who's accused of killing Lyne at her home last Friday, dismembering her, and dumping her body parts in a recycling bin, wouldn't face a life sentence if he's found guilty of the murder. Charlton, believed to have met Lyne online and dated her for around a month, claims he was blackout drunk the night of the murder and has told investigators he's homeless.
"The tragic murder of Ingrid Lyne has left a family and community in a spiral of grief and anguish," King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg said in a statement. "We may never understand why she was killed, but the police and prosecutors working on this case have done a tremendous job of piecing together a solid case against the person we believe to be responsible for her death." According to court documents, Charlton was arrested Monday at the home of an ex-girlfriend, who told investigators he was a "mean drunk," the Renton Reporter notes. He was initially "nonchalant" when police interviewed him, but he soon "expressed annoyance" with the line of questioning and invoked his right to a lawyer, the documents state. He will be back in court on April 27. (More murder stories.)
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