Police ping stolen cellphones to track suspect in Mount Vernon murder, robbery

ANACORTES, Wash. -- Court documents on Wednesday provided new details about a violent robbery that ended with the shooting death of a taxi driver in Mount Vernon.

Investigators are not yet talking about the motive in this case, but they were able to find their suspect by tracking a pair of stolen cellphones across four counties.

It all started Monday night in downtown Mount Vernon, where police found Lisa Eason shot in the head inside her Mert’s Taxi cab.

Court documents said Eason picked up 29-year-old Solomona Luteru from the Swinomish casino earlier Monday night, but Eason’s fare ended abruptly and in bloodshed.

Investigators said Luteru’s crime spree wasn’t over.

Detectives said they believe that minutes after the shooting, Luteru carjacked a woman at gunpoint in Mount Vernon.

Court documents said that Luteru forced her to give up her car and cellphones.

Investigators then pinged the phones and followed them south on Interstate 5.

On Tuesday morning, police discovered the phones and the stolen car inside a gated Lakewood community.

Police arrested Luteru wearing a shirt covered in blood. Police said he was carrying a .45 caliber handgun.

Investigators said Luteru asked for a lawyer because he told them he was “in a lot of trouble.”

The murder rocked the tight-knit community.

On its Facebook page, Mert’s Taxi said, “Thank you all for the overwhelming prayers and condolences as we grieve the departure of a coworker and friend.”

Luteru is being held in the Skagit County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail. His arraignment is scheduled for April 9.

Eason's family set up a gofundme.com account to help pay for her funeral services. Click here to visit the site.