Washington elementary school teacher found murdered: Husband suspected and missing

ANACORTES, Wash. (KOMO) — The murder of an elementary school teacher who was found stabbed to death in her Washington home is being investigated.

Anacortes Police Department confirmed the woman killed was Caitlin Follstad, 41, a teacher at Island View Elementary. The Anacortes School District said Follstad taught fifth-grade.

Police responded to a home on the 2200 block of J Avenue around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday after a man called 911 to report finding his daughter-in-law dead in the home. He also reported his son, who is Follstad's husband, was possibly suicidal and driving to the Deception Pass bridge.

After officers arrived and found the 41-year-old woman dead with stab wounds, they cleared the home and found the vehicle belonging to the residents of the home was missing. Washington State Patrol troopers later found the vehicle on the center island of Deception Pass bridge.

The APD said Follstad's husband is considered a suspect in her murder. Police have identified the victim's husband as Kevin Follstad, 41. He has not yet been located, but police are using search dogs from Snohomish County to help find him.

Police also said that multiple agencies responded to a report of a body in the water near Deception Pass, but have not yet been able to recover the body. Police believe this may be connected to the murder investigation, but have not been able to confirm this yet.

"We consider that to be very likely the outcome," Brent Lindquist with the Anacortes Police Department said. "We have not discovered a body, we have not confirmed that yet, but based on the circumstances surrounding the case, based on what has happened and where the vehicle was discovered and the unknown nature of his whereabouts, we do believe that’s what happened."

Police said the couple's young children were not home at the time of the murder and are now safe with their grandparents.

"That’s the biggest thing is the thought these children now have to spend the rest of their life, knowing that their father killed their mother and now they don’t have their mother, that’s the most heartbreaking thing of all of it," Kurt Kobs, who lives down the street from the Follstads, said.

The APD said they had a call in March related to the suspect's mental health issues, but have not had any other serious calls or reports of violence involving the couple. APD officials said, "his behavior at the time did not fit the criteria for involuntary treatment, and he declined to speak to medical professionals voluntarily." The department also shared homicide investigations are very rare in Anacortes, and this incident is the city's second murder in 40 years.

“Her passion for education led her to Island View Elementary, where she served as a teacher, mentor, and friend,” officials with the Anacortes School District said in a statement. “The Anacortes School District extends its sympathies to Caitlin's family, friends, students, and colleagues during this difficult time.”

The district also said grief counselors will be available to all students and staff as needed. District officials said a planned memorial for the community would be announced at a later date.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.