Murder suspect held on $500,000 bail

A $500,000 bail figure for pre-trial release was set by Judge David Frazier at Monday’s first appearance hearing for murder suspect Erik Luden, 24. Luden, a former WSU student, was arrested by Pullman Police late Saturday afternoon after they found Luden’s father, Virgil Luden, 58, dead on the floor in an apartment on NE C Street where Erik had been residing.

Senior Deputy Prosecutor Bill Druffel, citing evidence of raging emotion found at the scene, asked the court Monday to set Luden’s bail figure at $2 million. He described Luden as “a person at this time who is very dangerous.”

Erik Luden is suspected of hitting his father with a heavy pot. Druffel told the court Monday evidence shows Mr. Luden had been struck in the head multiple times with injuries to both eyes, nose and the side of his head.

Druffel said Mr. Luden had arrived at the apartment Saturday to assist Erik Luden in moving back to Sammamish.

An update on the investigation released Tuesday by Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins said an autopsy was conducted on the victim Monday and multiple blunt force trauma impacts were found at various locations on the head. Evidence of choking and a crushed larynx were also found.

Erik Luden allegedly called dispatchers in Pullman Saturday at 4:47 p.m. and reported his father was “out” on the floor of the apartment. He said he had hit his father with an iron pot after his father had attempted to cut him with a knife.

Monday’s arrest report said investigators believe the cuts found on Erik Luden’s left forearm were self-inflicted. The arrest report said a staff member at Pullman Regional Hospital, where Erik Luden was taken for treatment after his arrest, described two of the three cuts on his arm as “hesitation marks.”

Erik Luden was arrested on a probable charge of first-degree murder. Judge Frazier said after reviewing the arrest report, he found probable cause of some degree of homicide to be involved in the arrest.

The state was allowed until Thursday to file a charge under the 72-hour rule. An arraignment date, if needed, was slated for Friday morning.

Druffel told the court Monday Luden also has a charge of reckless driving pending in district court. The charge alleges that a Washington State Patrol trooper observed Luden driving in the 80 to 100 mph range and making passes on the right side. Druffel noted the state could not find any evidence of criminal convictions.

He added Luden’s mother at this time does not want him residing at the home so at the present time the suspect would not have a place to reside if allowed release.

Police determined Erik Luden had been a WSU student up until the start of the fall semester last year.