EVERETT — The 911 call Saturday was not the first time Bothell police had been to the mobile home where an elderly woman lived with her mentally ill daughter.
It was the most tragic.
The daughter met the officers on the front porch, wearing socks but no shoes.
“I want to go to jail,” she said.
When officers asked her why, she replied, “I need help.”
Moments later, police found the woman’s mother, Lila Donaldson, 81, on the floor inside the home. She died minutes later.
Terie S. Davidson, 42, was arrested for investigation of second-degree murder.
Bothell police had tried to keep the two apart, seeking a protection order on the mother’s behalf last May.
Police were called to the home around 5:20 a.m. Saturday. They found the body between a bathroom and bedroom. Blood was spattered on the floor and wall. Donaldson had a large head wound, court paper said.
Detectives believe Davidson killed her mother by striking her with a thick glass mug, according to court papers.
In a brief court appearance Wednesday, bail was set at $2 million for Davidson, who called 911 Saturday requesting an ambulance take her to get psychiatric care.
Bothell police discovered her mother inside the mobile home in the 3300 block of 228th Street SE. The victim’s name was redacted from court papers released Wednesday, but she was identified in earlier cases.
In June, a Bothell police officer filed a protection petition, arguing that the Donaldson was a vulnerable adult and at risk from her daughter, who had assaulted her.
The officer referred to two incidents last May when the mother called police because her daughter was becoming aggressive and violent. In one instance, Davidson was arrested for investigation of domestic violence assault.
The mother said Davidson has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was off her medication. Donaldson said she feared for her own safety.
However, she also said she didn’t want Davidson removed from the property because she was her caregiver and didn’t believe she had any place to go.
The officer described Donaldson as “a small, frail, elderly woman” and the daughter as tall and large. The daughter also was reported to “frequently drink excessive alcohol,” court papers said.
A judge signed the protection order.
In August, a motion was made in Snohomish County Superior Court to cancel the order.
Donaldson said her daughter was stable and had been on medications for three months, court papers said.
“She is my caregiver. I am 81 years old and need her at home,” she wrote.
All was not well inside the home.
Police were called to the residence Sept. 1 after receiving a call that a woman was attempting to commit suicide by dousing herself in gasoline and trying to light herself on fire, court papers said.
On Saturday, Davidson told police she wanted to go to jail shortly after they arrived. She did not mention her mother.
She was in her pajamas and wanted to go into the home to retrieve her shoes.
When an officer tried to go inside, Davidson allegedly shut the front door and said, “It’s really bad,” court papers said.
She reportedly began to struggle with the patrol officers and was placed in handcuffs.
At that point, an officer went inside to perform a safety check.
Aid crews tried to save Donaldson, but she was pronounced dead while the aid car was parked in front of the home.
Davidson told an officer she had ingested 20 pills. She was taken to a Kirkland hospital to be treated for a possible overdose.
On Tuesday, she was booked into the Snohomish Count Jail for investigation of second-degree murder.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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