Man arrested in death of local teacher
SEATTLE -- Seattle police have arrested a 48-year-old man in connection with the Christmas Eve murder of a local teacher.
Investigators believe Johnnie Lee Wiggins beat and killed 55-year-old Prudence Hockley outside her home in the 300 block of NW 74th Street. The pair had been dating, detectives say.
Hockley had stepped outside of her home around 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve to talk with a friend, said Seattle Police Department spokesman Jeff Kappel.
Witnesses heard a loud thump, and Hockley's 13-year-old daughter went outside to find her mother unconscious, Kappel added. Neighbors report seeing a man walking away from Hockley and speeding off in his car.
"It just is gut-wrenching, and it's so unfair," said Jill Jeakins, Hockley's friend for a decade. "An act of violence [like] that is so unnecessary. People have been robbed of a wonderful person."
Hockley taught English at Woodinville High School and was a single mom to her 13-year-old daughter. Hundreds of people have joined a Facebook page in tribute to the beloved teacher.
"Ms. Hockley was an extraordinary teacher who was passionate about learning, reading and writing," wrote Woodinville High School principal Kurt Criscione in a letter posted to the school's website. "She will forever be remembered for her dynamic personality and teaching style."
Neighbors say Wiggins had been looking for Hockley earlier in the day on Christmas Eve, before the murder took place.
Friends believe the couple, in happier times, may have bonded over their love of fitness. Wiggins is a professional bodybuilder.
Officials with the Washington State Department of Corrections are also examining why Wiggins was in Washington State.
Records show Wiggins was living in Seattle earlier this year under what's called community corrections - Washington's version of parole - and was being supervised for crimes committed in Georgia.
Wiggins assaulted a community corrections officer who found steroids in his home in May, said Maria Peterson, spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Corrections.
Wiggins then went back to Georgia, and officials here confirmed his status there through a letter sent to corrections officials there. "As of the submission of this response, [Wiggins] has returned to the state of GA and the case has been closed," reads the letter, dated August 30th.
"He's Georgia's responsibility to monitor from that point on," Peterson said.
Thursday morning, a spokeswoman with the Georgia Department of Corrections confirmed Wiggins was under their watch and was supposed to notify his probation officer if he left the state.
"Wiggins failed to inform his probation officer of his move to Washington, thus did not comply with the terms of his probation," said Gwendolyn Hogan."Due to his failure to comply, the Department is obtaining a warrant for Wiggins and is taking the proper steps to extradite Wiggins back to the state."
Meantime, friends continue to mourn Hockley - and wonder if her murder could have been prevented.
"I think there's some rage as news gets out that it may have been political between states in terms of the custody of this gentleman," said Miranda Meyer, Hockley's neighbor. "I think we were all pretty shook up. There was a lot of activity on Christmas Eve. We were all very worried for her daughter and for her."
"I feel cheated, especially for her daughters, who they won't grow up with their amazing mom," added Jeakins. "It's tragic."
Investigators believe Johnnie Lee Wiggins beat and killed 55-year-old Prudence Hockley outside her home in the 300 block of NW 74th Street. The pair had been dating, detectives say.
Hockley had stepped outside of her home around 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve to talk with a friend, said Seattle Police Department spokesman Jeff Kappel.
Witnesses heard a loud thump, and Hockley's 13-year-old daughter went outside to find her mother unconscious, Kappel added. Neighbors report seeing a man walking away from Hockley and speeding off in his car.
"It just is gut-wrenching, and it's so unfair," said Jill Jeakins, Hockley's friend for a decade. "An act of violence [like] that is so unnecessary. People have been robbed of a wonderful person."
Hockley taught English at Woodinville High School and was a single mom to her 13-year-old daughter. Hundreds of people have joined a Facebook page in tribute to the beloved teacher.
"Ms. Hockley was an extraordinary teacher who was passionate about learning, reading and writing," wrote Woodinville High School principal Kurt Criscione in a letter posted to the school's website. "She will forever be remembered for her dynamic personality and teaching style."
Neighbors say Wiggins had been looking for Hockley earlier in the day on Christmas Eve, before the murder took place.
Friends believe the couple, in happier times, may have bonded over their love of fitness. Wiggins is a professional bodybuilder.
Officials with the Washington State Department of Corrections are also examining why Wiggins was in Washington State.
Records show Wiggins was living in Seattle earlier this year under what's called community corrections - Washington's version of parole - and was being supervised for crimes committed in Georgia.
Wiggins assaulted a community corrections officer who found steroids in his home in May, said Maria Peterson, spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Corrections.
Wiggins then went back to Georgia, and officials here confirmed his status there through a letter sent to corrections officials there. "As of the submission of this response, [Wiggins] has returned to the state of GA and the case has been closed," reads the letter, dated August 30th.
"He's Georgia's responsibility to monitor from that point on," Peterson said.
Thursday morning, a spokeswoman with the Georgia Department of Corrections confirmed Wiggins was under their watch and was supposed to notify his probation officer if he left the state.
"Wiggins failed to inform his probation officer of his move to Washington, thus did not comply with the terms of his probation," said Gwendolyn Hogan."Due to his failure to comply, the Department is obtaining a warrant for Wiggins and is taking the proper steps to extradite Wiggins back to the state."
Meantime, friends continue to mourn Hockley - and wonder if her murder could have been prevented.
"I think there's some rage as news gets out that it may have been political between states in terms of the custody of this gentleman," said Miranda Meyer, Hockley's neighbor. "I think we were all pretty shook up. There was a lot of activity on Christmas Eve. We were all very worried for her daughter and for her."
"I feel cheated, especially for her daughters, who they won't grow up with their amazing mom," added Jeakins. "It's tragic."
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