An Anacortes woman was found stabbed and dead inside a home on Tuesday, April 9, according to Anacortes Police.
Officers responded to a call around 4:38 p.m. of a reported death at the 2200 block of J Avenue, according to a police news release. Law enforcement found 41-year-old Caitlin Follstad dead inside the home. Follstad was a fifth-grade teacher at Island View Elementary School in Anacortes.
Follstad’s husband, Kevin, is considered a suspect in the case. His father, who made the report to law enforcement, said his son was possibly suicidal and driving to Deception Pass Bridge, according to the news release. Officers determined that a vehicle belonging to the husband and the victim was not at the home.
Washington State Patrol troopers found the vehicle, a 2014 Toyota Camry, on the center island of Deception Pass Bridge around 5:45 p.m., according to the news release. Earlier in the day, multiple agencies had responded to a report of a body in the water near Deception Pass.
Anacortes Police believe that the body reported in the water is Follstad, but the body has not yet been recovered as of Wednesday afternoon.
Planning is underway to search for the body reported in the water, and will likely start next week, according to police.
Kevin Follstad had limited interaction with local law enforcement previously, police said. Anacortes police responded to a call in March related to Follstad’s mental health but determined his behavior at the time didn’t fit the criteria for involuntary treatment. He also declined to voluntarily speak with medical professionals.
The couple’s children are safe with family members, police said. The Anacortes School District released notification about Caitlin Follstad’s death on Tuesday.
“Her passion for education led her to Island View Elementary, where she served as a teacher, mentor and friend,” according to the release. The school district is providing grief counselors for students and staff impacted by the loss.
Law enforcement, including the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab, is continuing to investigate.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
