Seattle woman charged in gruesome murder of elderly Navy vet
SEATTLE -- A Seattle woman who's already facing more than 50 counts of theft for allegedly bilking an elderly woman out of more than $1 million was charged Thursday with first degree murder in the brutal stabbing death of another elderly man.
Prosecutors say 46-year-old Brenda Nicholas and two of her associates killed 70-year-old Navy veteran Francis Patrick Flemming in order to steal his valuable coin collection.
Flemming was found stabbed to death on Dec. 8, 2011 inside his apartment at the Four Freedoms House of Seattle.
Nicholas had already been charged with manipulating an 85-year-old Seattle woman out of $1,088,500 in cash during a nearly two-year period. It was through that woman that investigators believe Nicholas first came into contact with Flemming.
Detectives believe Nicholas, who was posing as a palm reader, repeatedly drugged the woman while bilking her out of her life savings.
By February 2011, the victim was broke and could no longer pay her rent at an assisted living facility. Over the next several months, police say Nicholas moved the victim to a number of new locations until settling at the Four Freedoms House, where she met Flemming.
The victim lived at the facility until July, when Nicholas abruptly moved her out, claiming Fleming was going to kill her.
While visiting the victim at the Four Freedoms House, detectives say Nicholas got wind of Flemming's rare coin collection and began plotting ways to steal it. According to Charles Jungbluth, who allegedly took part in the murder, Nicholas talked about robbing and killing Flemming on at least five or six occasions.
On the night of the murder, Nicholas, Jungbluth and a woman named Gilda Ramirez arrived at the Four Freedoms House armed with large kitchen knives, according to court documents. Once there, Ramirez allegedly knocked on Flemming's door and then pushed her way inside.
In an interview with detectives, Jungbluth said Ramirez first stabbed Flemming, but she was only able to cause a superficial wound. At that point, Nicholas began stabbing the man. Jungbluth said Flemming fought back and was able to grab a hold of Nichols' neck.
Jungbluth then allegedly jumped in and pushed Flemming to the ground. Once he was on the ground, both Nicholas and Jungbluth repeatedly stabbed him in the throat until he stopped breathing, according to charging papers.
The trio loaded the coins and other property into a duffel bag and left the apartment.
Police arrested Jungbluth in August after they were able to tie him to the murder scene using DNA evidence. He initially denied taking part in the killing, but later admitted his role and implicated both Ramirez and Nicholas.
Ramirez was originally charged in the murder, but has since pleaded guilty to robbery, burglary and trafficking in stolen property. She's facing a sentence of 57 to 99 months in prison.
All three defendants are currently in King County Jail on $2 million bail.
Nicholas will be arraigned on November 8.
Prosecutors say 46-year-old Brenda Nicholas and two of her associates killed 70-year-old Navy veteran Francis Patrick Flemming in order to steal his valuable coin collection.
Flemming was found stabbed to death on Dec. 8, 2011 inside his apartment at the Four Freedoms House of Seattle.
Nicholas had already been charged with manipulating an 85-year-old Seattle woman out of $1,088,500 in cash during a nearly two-year period. It was through that woman that investigators believe Nicholas first came into contact with Flemming.
Detectives believe Nicholas, who was posing as a palm reader, repeatedly drugged the woman while bilking her out of her life savings.
By February 2011, the victim was broke and could no longer pay her rent at an assisted living facility. Over the next several months, police say Nicholas moved the victim to a number of new locations until settling at the Four Freedoms House, where she met Flemming.
The victim lived at the facility until July, when Nicholas abruptly moved her out, claiming Fleming was going to kill her.
While visiting the victim at the Four Freedoms House, detectives say Nicholas got wind of Flemming's rare coin collection and began plotting ways to steal it. According to Charles Jungbluth, who allegedly took part in the murder, Nicholas talked about robbing and killing Flemming on at least five or six occasions.
On the night of the murder, Nicholas, Jungbluth and a woman named Gilda Ramirez arrived at the Four Freedoms House armed with large kitchen knives, according to court documents. Once there, Ramirez allegedly knocked on Flemming's door and then pushed her way inside.
In an interview with detectives, Jungbluth said Ramirez first stabbed Flemming, but she was only able to cause a superficial wound. At that point, Nicholas began stabbing the man. Jungbluth said Flemming fought back and was able to grab a hold of Nichols' neck.
Jungbluth then allegedly jumped in and pushed Flemming to the ground. Once he was on the ground, both Nicholas and Jungbluth repeatedly stabbed him in the throat until he stopped breathing, according to charging papers.
The trio loaded the coins and other property into a duffel bag and left the apartment.
Police arrested Jungbluth in August after they were able to tie him to the murder scene using DNA evidence. He initially denied taking part in the killing, but later admitted his role and implicated both Ramirez and Nicholas.
Ramirez was originally charged in the murder, but has since pleaded guilty to robbery, burglary and trafficking in stolen property. She's facing a sentence of 57 to 99 months in prison.
All three defendants are currently in King County Jail on $2 million bail.
Nicholas will be arraigned on November 8.
Why are people like this who prey on people to exploit them still breathing?.... because the law does not allow us to simply execute this pieces of dirt... where is the millions they stole from the other woman?... take every asset from these people then discard them as they are plain worthless people and don't deserve to be apart of society!
If she was already charged with stealing $1M, why was she not locked up?
How horrible for these elderly people. I bet they worked and saved their whole lives just so some low life piece of trash that thinks the world owes them something goes and steals it.
I usually don't wish bad juju on people but, I really hope these turd balls never have a moments piece the rest of their lives.
 @swansong68 Wont matter, once they get to prison the population will take care of them. Two things that promise hard time with other inmate. Crimes against children, and crimes against the elderly.Â
Davey, you are an idiot!!!Â
Why is an 85 year old woman hoarding over $1 million dollars? She should have distributed her income or had someone else's name on her bank accounts such as her progeny.
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The need to hoard all that money and be in power all the time and be in control all the time is a recipe for an outsider to come in and steal it from an old person who is oblivious to how incompetent they really are.
 @david davey Hoarding?  Living in that facility likely eats up at least five grand a month.  Even if she has no family, it's HER money.
 @david davey Are you a kidding? That is called an estate, to be given to family upon ones death. Hording? It's called RETIREMENT! You see, people of that generation actually worked hard and contributed. They were frugal because unlike following generations they actually did without to support a war, went through the depression, etc. They ate lard sandwiches. And, they trusted people. It was unheard of to lock doors in their era. Neighbors walked right in.Â
 @david davey Sure, let's place the blame on the victim... after all, if she hadn't hoarded all that money, no one could have taken it from her. /sarcasam Â
 @david davey Love the compassion you're showing here, Davey. How someone manages their money is entirely up to them. This lady is old enough to have experienced the Great Depression, and many of her age handle their finances that way. Although not prudent, entirely legal.
 @david davey perhaps she has no family. who else would be on her bank account? I am not married and don't have kids so at 85 I too will be in charge of my money. It's not unheard of.
I'm sure that a plea deal was done to get Ramirez to testify against the other two. I hate plea deals. If the prosecutor doesn't have enough evidence for a conviction then do more investigating and get enough.Â
 @jcman The problem is, they often have overwhelming evidence, but don't want to take the time or spend the money.
It's ludicrous the many stages in which the crime list is watered down â condense the dozens of charges to maybe three or four (often just one); then agree to drop significant aggravating factors from the remaining ones; then assess the lowest possible end of the sentencing range; then serve any and all charges "concurrently," which is physically impossible; and finally, time off for supposed good behavior, rather than time ON for poor behavior as it should be.Â
Only Months?!? She NEEDS YEARS... Premeditation and shes only getting MONTHS?!? What is this world coming to?!
Wow 57 to 99 months to have someone cook your meals, do your laundry, pay your rent.
Let me see if I have this right, I go and take part of a crime and I too, go on vacation.Â
What a freaking joke.Â
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 @Just my say It will be months of fear! Nearly every inmate, especially the lifers, will be gunning for them. Two things that promise hard time with other inmates. Crimes against children, and crimes against the elderly. Believe me, they will be doing hard time constantly looking over their shoulder. Worried about their food. And no one will associate with them either. So, that pretty much becomes solitary.Â
 @Just my say Not a crime...a planned murder.....ONLY the criminals get justice.
Does really say She's facing a sentence of 57 to 99 months in prison?   MONTHS???
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She took part in a gruesome murder and this is what she is facing? Â Â
 @Andrew Bush Yeah but according to the other poster here..  that's a vacation.  They do your laundry, cook your meals,  and pay your rent.  *rolls eyes*
 @sleever  @Andrew Bush How can you say its not a vacation??
 @detour5555  @sleever  @Andrew Bush Two things that promise hard time with other inmates. Crimes against children, and crimes against the elderly. Believe me, they will be doing hard time constantly looking over their shoulder. Worried about their food. It will not be a vacation. They will be lucky to get out alive.
Please just kill all three of these low lives. Do not waste money on them rotting in our prisons.
 @lakeunion We need a real life Dexter.
@lakeunion Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap!