Wash. man arrested for obstruction of justice, named suspect in wife's murder, report says

(CBS) BOTHELL, Wash. - The estranged husband of a woman who was found dead in her bathtub in February was arrested last Thursday on an obstruction of justice charge, CBS affiliate KIRO reports.

According to the station, officers had a search warrant to obtain the passport of Alan Smith but he refused to hand it over. Police initially named Smith a person of interest in the death of his wife, Susann Smith, but now his status has reportedly been upgraded to suspect. He has not been officially charged in her death.

Susann Smith was found in the bathtub of her Bothell, Wash. home in February. She had been stabbed and beaten so badly that she had to be identified by her dental records, KIRO reports.

Court documents reportedly show Alan Smith bought a mallet at Home Depot about a month before Susann's death and her wounds may be consistent with that instrument. The station reports investigators also found traces of blood on the steering wheel of Alan Smith's Mercedes and on his backpack.

According to the station, police say Alan Smith researched airfare to Venezuela and the best places to live in Central America in the days before his wife was killed.

The couple is said to have been going through a bitter divorce and custody battle over their two children at the time of Susann's death. The couple's children are now in the custody of Child Protective Services.

Alan Smith is reportedly now living with his new girlfriend, Love Thai, in the home he shared with his slain wife.

On Saturday, he reportedly agreed to turn over his passport to authorities. He was released from jail after posting $10,000 bail.