WF Ruth Dalton died after 'Jahmed Haynes' allegedly carjacked her and ran her over as she was caring for several dogs.

[Arheel's Uncle]

Seattle pet sitter, family of slain dog walker advocate for neighborhood security

A Seattle pet sitter injured in a hit-and-run says she knew Ruth Dalton, the beloved dogwalker who was killed in a carjacking last August.

www.fox13seattle.com

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Seattle pet sitter, family of slain dog walker advocate for neighborhood security​

By Jennifer Dowling

Published January 15, 2025 10:40pm PST

Pet sitter, family of slain dog walker advocate for neighborhood security​

A Seattle pet sitter injured in a hit-and-run says she knew Ruth Dalton, the beloved dogwalker who was killed in a carjacking last August. She's calling for more security cameras in neighborhoods.

The Brief​

• • A hit-and-run driver is still on the loose after seriously injuring a pet sitter on Christmas Day while she was out walking her cat near Seward Park.
  • The victim of the crash knew Ruth Dalton, a beloved dog walker who was killed in the Madison Valley neighborhood after being violently carjacked.
  • Meily and Ruth Dalton's grandaughter are calling for better security measures after the two incidents.

SEATTLE - A hit-and-run driver is still on the loose after seriously injuring a pet sitter on Christmas Day while she was out walking her cat near Seward Park in Seattle.

The crash came on the heels of the death of another dog walker this summer, Ruth Dalton, who died alongside her dog Prince, after Seattle Police say she was carjacked and run over by Jahmed Haynes.

"I have a lot of fractures that have to heal before I can learn to walk again," said Karen Miely, still recovering from a hit-and-run from a care facility in Seattle.



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Professional pet sitter struck by hit-and-run driver while taking cat for a walk​

A 73-year-old professional dog walker and pet-sitter from Seward Park is still recovering in the hospital after a hit-and-run driver nearly killed her on Christmas Day.

Miely was just transferred to a long-term care facility recently after spending several days in the hospital.

"The biggest milestone would probably be getting the bar out of my pelvis," said Miely.

She was hit at an intersection near her home while walking her cat Max, also known as Maximus Rex. He escaped unharmed and ran home.

Local perspective:


Miely also knew Ruth Dalton, another local dogwalker and pet caretaker, who was killed last August.

Ruth Dalton

"Ruth used to walk five at a time," said Miely.
[Ruth] Dalton died after Jahmed Haynes allegedly carjacked her and ran her over as she was caring for several dogs.


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Hundreds pay tribute to grandmother killed in Seattle carjacking​

Melanie Roberts gave an emotional tribute to her grandmother, Ruth Dalton, as walkers on two and four feet took to the streets to honor the legacy of one of their favorite members of the community.

"It’s heartbreaking what happened to that family," said Miely.


"When I heard the story she was hit on Christmas Day, I was like ‘What the heck?’ It’s like open season on dog walkers in Seattle," said Melanie Roberts, Ruth Dalton’s granddaughter.


Years before the homicide, Dalton was also injured by a random driver, according to her granddaughter.


"She was starting into the crosswalk, and had seen a car a couple blocks away and she thought that they would have seen her in the crosswalk and it was an elderly woman, and she did not see grandma and she hit her in the crosswalk," said Roberts.


Roberts says Dalton suffered knee injuries.


"My grandma was fortunate that the woman that hit her in 2009, she stopped and it was an honest to God accident, to hear that Karen was hit and left was disheartening," said Roberts.


Miely wishes more security cameras were rolling where she was hit. Roberts believes Dalton would have advocated for that.


"Almost like neighborhood watch cameras. When she saw cameras around, she felt safer," said Roberts.


Meantime, an online fundraiser is raising money for Miely’s recovery. She hopes to be home in April.


"I’m thinking, well, that’s around my birthday, I’d like to go home and see my cat. He’s patiently, he’s just being such a good boy," said Miely.


She says investigators told her a car part was found in the area after the crash. However, it’s unclear if it’s related. FOX 13 reached out to Seattle Police for any updates. We are waiting to hear back.


Miely is continuing to ask anyone with security camera footage from around 7 p.m. on December 25 in the area of South Orcas Street and 51st or 52nd Avenue South to check their cameras and share footage with police if they haven’t done so already.

 

[Arheel's Uncle]

[Ruth] Dalton died after Jahmed Haynes allegedly carjacked her and ran her over as she was caring for several dogs.

Judge rules accused carjacker competent, denies bail in Seattle dog walker murder case

A judge has found Jahmed Haynes, the man accused of murdering a beloved 80-year-old dog walker, competent to stand trial.

www.fox13seattle.com

By Alejandra Guzman

Published December 26, 2024 6:26pm PST

Man accused of killing beloved dog walker found competent​

Jahmed Haynes, the man accused of killing a beloved 80-year-old dog walker in Madison Valley, has been found competent.

SEATTLE, Wash. - A judge has found Jahmed Haynes, the man accused of murdering beloved 80-year-old dog walker Ruth Dalton in Madison Valley last August, competent to stand trial. The court’s decision came after months of debate surrounding his mental health and whether he could adequately face the charges against him.


Dalton’s family expressed relief at the court’s ruling, with her granddaughter Melanie Roberts stating, "I’m really relieved that finally through the smoke, the truth was seen, and that he is competent."


According to court documents, Haynes allegedly carjacked Dalton while she was walking dogs in the neighborhood. He is accused of dragging her with her own car before running her over. Haynes is also charged with animal cruelty for the violent killing of Dalton’s dog, Chico.


Prosecutors presented a Department of Social and Health Services report dated December 24, 2024, which deemed Haynes competent.

"We have a DSHS report which opines he is competent to proceed, so we’re asking your honor to find him competent today," argued Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Alexandra Logan.


Judge David Keenan ruled Haynes competent as he was present in court in a wheelchair, handcuffed and shackled. However, FOX 13 and other news outlets were not allowed to film his face, as his defense argued the chance to a fair trial, and potential contamination of the jury should his likeness be recorded.


"I do find that identity is an issue in this case," Keenan said.

No Bail Hold: Extensive Criminal History​

Thursday's competency hearing was just the beginning, as the defense pleaded not guilty and requested Haynes' bail be set at $50,000. The initial case was set for a ‘no bail’ hold.


Prosecutors argued Haynes’ criminal record includes six felony convictions dating back to 1983, including vehicular homicide and robbery in 1999. Prosecutors also detailed incidents where Haynes assaulted corrections officers at Monroe State Penitentiary in 2005 while serving a prison sentence, it resulted in a 108-month consecutive sentence. These convictions and charges would make this Haynes’ third strike under Washington state’s persistent offender statute, potentially resulting in a life sentence if convicted.


Deputy Prosecutor Brent Kling argued against reducing bail, saying, "His behavior in this case, coupled with his history, coupled with the charges that he is facing now, demonstrate that he is capable of committing incredible acts of violence and that he has a propensity for violence that unquestionably shows that he is a danger to the community."


"I'm denying bail in this matter given the incredibly violent allegations here, they’re very serious along with the defendant's previous convictions," Keenan said.

Family’s Plea for Justice​

Melanie Roberts delivered an emotional plea to the court, urging the judge to maintain the no-bail hold.


"I plead with the court to not allow him to prey on us acting victims in the real world. Please continue no-bail hold so my family and our community can rest easier and keep what little peace we have felt in the past four months," Roberts said.


A small victory for Dalton's loved ones.


"I'm confident he will be found to be guilty eventually," Roberts said. "He doesn't deserve to be on the street. We don't deserve for him to be on the street to be a menace to the rest of us. He's not going to be a danger to anyone else's grandmother or mother, brother, sister, dog, everybody's safe from him, and it's huge victory for me and my family and our community and everybody."


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Granddaughter of Seattle carjacking victim glad suspect was denied bail​

Ruth Dalton's granddaughter believes that no bail is appropriate for the suspect, and is frustrated that the state's "Three Strikes Rule" didn't apply in this case.

Reflecting on the pain her family has endured, Roberts shared a poignant memory of her grandmother, recounting a recent moment where she saw a double rainbow and felt her grandmother’s presence.


"This is our rain right now. And my rainbow might not be as bright as it used to be, but we’ll still get our rainbow," Roberts said.


The court’s ruling marks the first significant step toward justice for Dalton’s family.


Dalton’s family vowed to attend every hearing to honor her memory. "If he’s here, I’m here," Roberts said. "I look forward to justice being all the way served in this matter."

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