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Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Woman questioned and released in Howard Porter case

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posted by Bob at Tuesday, June 05, 2007

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Woman arrested in Porter's death released without charges
A woman suspected of involvement in Howard Porter's death was released from Ramsey County jail Tuesday without being charged.

David Chanen And Howie Padilla

Last update: June 05, 2007 – 11:28 AM


Arrest made in Porter case, but police aren't done looking
A woman suspected of involvement in Howard Porter's death was released from Ramsey County jail Tuesday without being charged.
Prosecutors had until noon today to charge Tonya Y. Washington or ask for an extension. St. Paul Police Department spokesman Tom Walsh said it would have been difficult to get a judge to agree to an extension.

"This was the right way to go," he said.

The investigation into Porter's death remains open and Washington is still considered "a person of interest," Walsh said. "We think we're on the right track."

Porter was a Ramsey County probation officer. Washington, 33, was booked into jail late Sunday on suspicion of homicide. A source with knowledge of the investigation said that Porter and Washington had known each other for some time.

Investigators searched a St. Paul home where Washington had lived and collected blood samples, the source said. It was unclear Monday whether the blood was Porter's.

Walsh declined to reveal much about the investigation, including what role the 5-foot-2 Washington may have played in the beating death of the 6-foot-8 former college basketball standout.

"We are, in fact, looking for other suspects, but we're not commenting on who they are," Walsh said.

The source said police had arrested a male suspect in connection with the beating but lacked enough evidence to take the case to prosecutors. He was released pending further investigation.

Walsh declined to comment on details about Washington's arrest. He also declined to say whether investigators believe the killing was random.

It was revealed Monday that the St. Paul Police Department is now the lead investigating agency, which indicates that the crime was committed in St. Paul.

Porter, 58, a former Villanova University star and NBA player, was found unconscious and severely beaten in a north Minneapolis alley on May 19.

He was last seen about 9 p.m. the night before at his St. Paul home, police have said. His rented Cadillac turned up in St. Paul, with blood in its trunk that indicated "a high likelihood of foul play," according to a search warrant affidavit.

After police asked for the public's help in finding Porter, they learned that he had been found, without identification, in the alley and taken to North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale.

Porter died the next Saturday - seven days after he was found - of multiple blunt force injuries.


dchanen@startribune.com • 612-673-4465


hpadilla@startribune.com • 651-298-1551

12:16 PM  

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