42-year-old homeless man charged with murder in death of another transient in Parkland

TACOMA -- A 42-year-old transient was charged Monday with second-degree murder in the beating and strangulation death of a homeless man in Parkland last Thursday.

Bail was set at $1 million for Douglas Reid Murray, 42.

He is charged with killing Thomas James Fite, 41, whose body was found outside 10656 Pacific Avenue South in Parkland last Thursday without shoes or socks.

Detectives said the victim died of blunt force trauma and strangulation. He suffered a broken arm, a broken finger, a fractured sternum and broken ribs.

Witnesses reported seeing the victim drinking beer with another homeless man the night before. Detectives determined Murray was the same man who witnesses had seen with Fite.

Deputies found Murray in a  nearby fast-food restaurant the next morning and said he had dried blood and Fite's Washington ID card on him.