MOUNT VERNON — A 26-year-old Concrete man pleaded not guilty Thursday in Skagit County Superior Court to premeditated first-degree murder.
A conviction would carry a sentence of up to life in prison.
The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office arrested Brandon Lee Jernigan on July 28 for allegedly stabbing to death 52-year-old Michael Klingele of Concrete.
On that day, deputies received a report that Klingele had been stabbed with a sword, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
Deputies responded about 5 a.m. to a home in the 46000 block of Washington Street in Concrete that was shared by several people including Jernigan and Klingele.
Klingele was transported to Skagit Valley Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was later pronounced dead.
Court records indicate Klingele was stabbed in the chest early in the morning while sitting in a chair. The documents state that it appears the sword went through Klingele’s body and then through the chair on which he was sitting.
Law enforcement from the Sheriff’s Office, the Sedro-Woolley Police Department and the State Patrol responded to the scene to conduct an investigation, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.
After establishing probable cause to arrest Jernigan, deputies and detectives — with assistance from a Homeland Security helicopter — located Jernigan near downtown Concrete and arrested him without incident, according to the news release.
Documents state Jernigan initially denied any role in the stabbing, but later told investigators he stabbed the victim because he “hurts women and they needed retribution.”
Jernigan told law enforcement he had a list of names in his head of three other people he planned to kill, court documents state.
Jernigan’s is being held in the Skagit County Justice Center on $1 million bail. His trial is scheduled for Oct. 3.
