Investigators say the case moved from a reported home invasion to an accusation that the husband staged the scene.
COVINGTON, Wash. — A 911 call reporting a violent home invasion began a murder investigation that ended with the caller charged in the stabbing death of his wife, court records say.
The call came the morning of May 1 from a home on 186th Place Southeast in Covington. Kyle Wayland Cathcart, 41, told authorities that an intruder had attacked him and his wife, Jodi Ann Cathcart, 36. Deputies arrived and found Jodi Cathcart dead in a bedroom. Cathcart was injured but survived. Within days, detectives said the reported break-in no longer matched the evidence, and prosecutors later charged Cathcart with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement.
Cathcart’s first account placed an unknown attacker inside the home. He said he heard his wife scream his name, went to check on her and encountered a man in a dark hoodie. He described the man as about his own height and weight, with blue eyes. He told investigators the man was stabbing Jodi Cathcart, then turned on him. Cathcart said he tried to fight the intruder, was poked in the stomach, struck in the face and slammed into a garage door before losing consciousness. He said he called 911 after he woke up. Court documents say the call was made about 7:25 a.m.
Deputies and detectives then began checking the house against that account. Jodi Cathcart had multiple stab wounds, later reported by prosecutors as at least 48. A kitchen knife was found in a hallway. Cathcart’s injuries were described as non-life-threatening and included superficial scratches to his abdomen, swelling and bruising near an eye and an injury to his hand. Investigators found no obvious signs of forced entry. That point mattered because Cathcart had reported that someone had broken in. The home also had a Ring camera, giving detectives a way to test whether an unknown person had entered or left near the time of the attack.
The camera footage became the turning point in the timeline. Detectives said it showed a person in dark clothing leaving the home after the stabbing, but it did not show anyone entering through the front or back doors before the killing. The figure leaving appeared similar to Cathcart in height and build, according to investigators. Police noted that a white tag was visible near the back of the hooded garment, suggesting it was being worn inside out. When detectives asked Cathcart about similar clothing, he denied owning black sweatpants. He did say he owned a black sweatshirt that read “Karate Dad.”
From there, the search moved outward. Detectives found black clothing on top of garbage at a neighbor’s property. Among the items was a hoodie that read “Karate Mom.” Police said it tested positive for blood, and Jodi Cathcart’s mother identified it as her daughter’s hoodie. Investigators said the clothing resembled what the person in the Ring video had worn. They also found blood near the garage door keypad. Detectives concluded that a person with access to the garage could leave by the front door, discard clothing, then reenter without being recorded by the same camera system. The scene, they said, no longer looked like a random intruder’s path.
Investigators also documented details that suggested staging. Items from Jodi Cathcart’s wallet were found outside near the front entry, according to court documents. Police said the garage door had blood smeared on it, and the knife was left in the hallway. Cathcart had told police that the person seen leaving was not shown coming back inside. Detectives viewed that statement differently after finding the garage evidence. They believed the person in the video had returned through the garage, where a code or opener could allow entry. The lack of a camera image of someone coming back did not end the inquiry. It redirected it.
The case changed again after police found Cathcart in Renton and arrested him. Detectives said that after he was read his rights, he admitted he had planned to kill Jodi Cathcart. According to the probable cause statement, he said he put on her clothing, used a kitchen knife to stab her, then tried to make the house look as if a burglary had taken place. He allegedly said he removed items from her wallet, threw the clothing onto a neighbor’s garbage pile, went back into the home through the garage and smeared blood on the garage door. Police said he also stated that he tried to kill himself with the knife but could not.
Prosecutors later added a financial theory to the timeline. Cathcart told investigators he and Jodi Cathcart had two civil lawsuits pending, with payouts he claimed would total more than $61 million. He said one payout was scheduled for the day of the killing. Prosecutors allege he had lied about the money and killed his wife to prevent her from learning the truth. The state also noted that the couple’s three children, ages 7, 5 and 3, were in the home during the attack. Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Thomas O’Ban wrote that Cathcart chose to kill his wife rather than seek a divorce if he was unhappy.
Jodi Cathcart’s identity and life came into public view as the case moved forward. Friends and coworkers described her as a mother and an assistant codirector at Foster Champs of Washington. Support efforts began for her children and relatives after her death. The children are staying with family members, according to local reports. The public details about her work and family stood beside the court record, which focused on the knife, the camera footage, the garage access, the clothing, the 911 call and the alleged post-arrest statements. No trial has been held, and Cathcart has pleaded not guilty.
By May 18, the case had reached arraignment. Cathcart pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. A judge kept his bail at $60 million. The case now continues through King County Superior Court, where future hearings are expected to address evidence, scheduling and any defense challenges.
Author note: Last updated May 27, 2026.