Murder Suspect Caugt In Lewiston

Tue., Aug. 29, 2000

From Staff

The Lewiston police caught a murder suspect Saturday wanted in Western Washington by the Everett Police Department.

Brandon Teal Putnam, 19, of Clarkston was charged Thursday in Snohomish County Superior Court with the murder of Maria Berg, 22, in an apparent robbery at the victim’s apartment. Another young man, Aaron Haug, also was charged in the Aug. 16 crime.

On Saturday evening, Lewiston police learned that a girl had run away and was taking a bus to Lewiston where she was to be picked up by Putnam. She was accompanied by another juvenile from Everett.

Using two plain-clothes officers, the police identified the runaway, her friend and Putnam at the bus station at about 9:30 p.m. They got into a car with three others and drove on Highway 12 into Lewiston. The police stopped them at the entrance to the Memorial Bridge and took Putnam into custody without incident. He likely will be taken to Snohomish County where he’ll stand trial.

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