EDMONDS — A man who fatally stabbed his ex-girlfriend’s friend in the Edmonds WinCo parking lot last year was sentenced Wednesday to over 17 years in prison.
Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Bret Northcutt, 37. The state amended the original charge of first-degree murder, noting it would be difficult to prove the murder was premeditated to a jury, deputy prosecutor Michael Boska said Wednesday.
The defendant was upset over Northcutt’s friendship with his former partner, Katelan Duckworth, according to charging papers.
Bramel-Allen had no prior felony history. So under state sentencing guidelines, he faced roughly 10 to 18 years. Both prosecutors and the defense agreed to recommend a prison term close to the high end of that range.
Bramel-Allen, Northcutt and Duckworth had known each other for many years, according to court documents. The defendant and Duckworth were together for a decade. They reportedly broke up a few weeks before the stabbing.
For weeks, Bramel-Allen had been threatening to kill Northcutt, according to charging papers.
Duckworth’s mother told investigators Bramel-Allen had it “out for (Northcutt)” after his relationship ended. She feared for her daughter’s life, according to the charges.
Around 8:20 p.m., April 19, Northcutt parked a Kia Sorento, registered to Duckworth’s mother, outside WinCo at 21900 Highway 99, according to court papers. Bramel-Allen drove into the parking lot about a minute later.
The defendant was living at a nearby homeless encampment and frequented the grocery store, defense attorney Natalie Tarantino wrote in court documents.
Northcutt walked into the store as Bramel-Allen walked over to the Kia and tried to open the passenger door, but found it locked, security footage shows.
The defendant reportedly stashed a backpack in bushes outside the store before hiding behind a Redbox kiosk, waiting for Northcutt to come out.
Northcutt exited the store carrying a grocery bag and walked back to his car, according to the charges. Bramel-Allen followed from a distance, and when they got close to the car, he ran up and repeatedly stabbed Northcutt in the torso.
The attack lasted about 18 seconds. Northcutt tried to walk away, but collapsed.
The suspect got into the car, driving past Northcutt on the ground, court papers say.
Northcutt died at the scene from “sharp force injuries,” an autopsy determined.
Nearly six hours later, police found the Kia Sorento near Volunteer Park in Seattle. A 911 caller guided police to the suspect, who tried to flee on foot. Bramel-Allen stabbed himself “multiple times” in the neck before surrendering, according to the charges.
He was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
Upon learning of Northcutt’s death, Bramel-Allen felt “deep remorse,” defense attorney Natalie Tarantino wrote in court documents.
“I plead guilty to everything, I don’t want to (expletive) talk right now,” he reportedly told investigators.
About a week after Northcutt’s death, Duckworth died in her Mountlake Terrace apartment from an accidental overdose, according to the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office. She was 35.
“It is of course understood that these events have been absolutely devestating to the surviving families involved,” deputy prosecutor Michael Boska said Wednesday. “We are hoping Mr. Bramel-Allen, to some extent, will be able to move forward from this.”
Northcutt and Duckworth’s family members attended the sentencing Wednesday, but did not speak to the court.
In court, Bramel-Allen apologized to Northcutt’s family for “all the pain that I’ve caused.”
“That was the worst thing anybody can do, and I’ll regret it for the rest of my life,” Bramel-Allen said.
Tarantino argued the defendant was “angry” about Northcutt’s alleged influence on Duckworth’s substance abuse disorder, but did not intend to kill him.
“Even when he had thought he had just hurt him when (Bramel-Allen) was hospitalized, he was devestated,” Tarantino said in court. “The loss of their mutual friend, Bramel-Allen’s girlfriend, shortly after to an overdose … this is so sad.”
As the hearing ended, Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Bruce Weiss addressed the defendant.
“I would suggest one way that you can be productive is to take what you’ve learned here and pass on that information to other people so that they don’t find themselves in the same position as you find yourself in,” Weiss said. “Good luck.”
Maya Tizon: 425-339-3434; maya.tizon@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @mayatizon.
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