EVERETT — Last week, a judge ordered Gary Sturdevant to stay away from his wife’s Everett-area home.
Investigators say Sturdevant ignored the order, snuck onto the property late Sunday and stabbed his wife’s boyfriend to death.
Sturdevant, 41, allegedly told detectives he wanted to kill the man for multiple reasons, but primarily he was enraged over allegations that the man sexually assaulted one of Sturdevant’s relatives, according to court papers filed Tuesday in Everett District Court.
There was no indication Tuesday that authorities were investigating allegations against the victim, 46.
Sturdevant gave detectives a detailed account of the slaying.
He told detectives he conducted surveillance on the house prior to the slaying. He said he went to his wife’s house with the intention of killing the man, police wrote in court papers.
He said he took a knife from his mother’s house and sharpened the blade while a friend gave him a ride. Sturdevant allegedly told police he saw the victim burning copper wire in a bonfire on the property. He said he snuck up behind him, tapped him on the shoulder and knocked the man to the ground.
Sturdevant said he kicked the man a few times and then plunged a knife into the man’s throat, according to the police affidavit. He then dragged the man into some bushes. Sturdevant said he tried to cover up a pool of blood with some sand.
Sturdevant allegedly told investigators that he didn’t regret what he’d done other than wishing he’d spent more time torturing the victim, police records said.
Sturdevant was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree murder.
Police caught up with Sturdevant after a relative called 911 to report that she believed Sturdevant had hurt someone. Police were directed to a house in Everett and found Sturdevant inside. He allegedly told officers he killed someone, court papers said.
Once Everett police learned that Sturdevant had a court-order to stay away from his wife, they asked Snohomish County sheriff’s deputies to check on the woman at her home near Ebey Slough.
Deputies contacted the woman who was sleeping and not injured. Deputies discovered the victim’s body outside the house.
His name has not been released.
Sturdevant allegedly told police that the victim and his wife became involved while Sturdevant was serving a six-month jail sentence. Sturdevant returned home and discovered someone else’s property there. He told detectives he learned that the victim had essentially moved in with his wife.
Sturdevant and his wife have been married for more than 20 years. She has sought court intervention in the past against her husband and made allegations that he was violent toward her. Most recently she asked a judge to ban Sturdevant from contacting her or the victim, whom she identified in court papers as her friend. She alleged that about nine months ago Sturdevant threw a chair through a bedroom window, according to court documents. She went to court last week and asked for a protection order.
A temporary order was granted and a hearing was scheduled for next week.
Sturdevant was expected to appear Tuesday in Everett District Court but refused to leave his jail cell. A judge agreed to reschedule the hearing for today.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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