Couple arrested in Washington for a deadly Calif. crime spree, police say

(CBS) SEATTLE - A California couple was arrested Wednesday in connection to the death of a retired schoolteacher after police recovered the woman's stolen car in the Seattle area, CBS San Francisco reports.

King County police in Washington said they spotted the reported stolen blue Subaru around 9 a.m. Wednesday, which was occupied by Darnell Washington, 24, and his 25-year-old wife, Tania. After an alleged car chase, the couple was arrested and detained on the stolen vehicle case.

California detectives will be traveling to Washington and investigate the suspects for their connection in 55-year-old Susie Ko's death, who was found fatally stabbed in her Hercules home Friday night. Hercules police said the only thing that appeared to be missing from the home was the family's Subaru station wagon.

Authorities believe the couple went on a crime spree after Darnell allegedly escaped from the San Bernardino County Jail on Aug. 28 with the help of his wife. They allegedly shot a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy on Sept. 2 after spotting Darnell and attempting to detain him.

Officials said the pair then fled the area after carjacking a vehicle. They dumped the stolen vehicle in the city of South Gate and allegedly carjacked another car.

Ko was the principal of Hilltop Chinese School and an elementary school teacher at St. Patrick's School Rodeo. She is survived by her husband and her four adult children.

Officers arrived at Ko's home Friday night after her husband called neighbors when she didn't arrive to pick him up at the airport as planned. Neighbors discovered Ko's body, suffering from stab wounds, on the floor of her home.

The FBI assisted Hercules police in gathering evidence in Ko's murder. Detectives from Los Angeles County and King County will join Hercules investigators to determine the extent of the couple's crimes since Darnell Washington escaped from jail.