A calculated act of violence at a Lynnwood apartment complex has resulted in assault charges against two young adults accused of luring and stabbing a teenage boy in what investigators describe as a premeditated attack rooted in romantic jealousy.
The assault occurred on 9 November at Scriber Creek Apartments, where a 17-year-old boy suffered a potentially life-threatening stab wound to his back after being deceived into leaving his residence by his former girlfriend.
Snohomish County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the stabbing call and discovered the teenager with serious injuries requiring immediate transport to Providence Hospital. The back wound’s location made it particularly dangerous, as the victim could neither see the attack coming nor effectively defend himself, whilst vital organs remained vulnerable to the blade’s penetration.
Deputies detained two suspects shortly after the assault, locating 18-year-old Adam DiJulio and 19-year-old Mylee Murphy at a nearby strip mall. The swift apprehension, occurring within minutes or hours of the stabbing, prevented the pair from fleeing the area or establishing distance from the crime scene.
Both suspects were read their Miranda rights and subsequently provided statements to investigators, with their admissions forming the foundation of the probable cause affidavit that detailed the attack’s planning and execution.
Murphy’s statement to deputies revealed chilling premeditation, reportedly telling investigators that she and DiJulio went to the apartment complex specifically “to stab” the victim, who had previously been in a romantic relationship with her. This explicit admission of intent distinguishes the attack from spontaneous violence that erupts during heated confrontations, instead revealing calculated planning to inflict serious harm.
The interpersonal dynamics underlying the assault create a complex web of betrayed relationships and romantic rivalry. Deputies noted that DiJulio and Murphy are current romantic partners, whilst the victim represented Murphy’s former boyfriend. Additionally, DiJulio and the victim had formerly been friends, adding another layer of betrayal to the violence as DiJulio attacked someone he once considered an associate.
The report indicates DiJulio admitted to stabbing the victim with a silver steak knife that Murphy had provided, establishing her active role in facilitating the assault beyond merely arranging the encounter. The weapon’s provision demonstrates shared culpability, with Murphy supplying the means of attack whilst also creating the circumstances that placed the victim in a vulnerable position.
Investigators documented that Murphy lured the victim from his apartment under the false pretence of meeting to smoke together. This deception exploited the teenager’s trust in his former girlfriend, creating a scenario where he voluntarily left the relative safety of his residence expecting a casual social interaction, only to find himself ambushed and stabbed.
The use of a mundane household item, a steak knife, as the weapon reflects either spontaneous selection from available implements or deliberate choice of an inconspicuous object that would not raise suspicions if observed. Unlike obvious weapons such as hunting knives or firearms, a steak knife could be carried without attracting attention, facilitating the attack’s element of surprise.
Following the stabbing, DiJulio allegedly disposed of the weapon by throwing it into nearby woods, an act representing consciousness of guilt and attempts to eliminate physical evidence connecting him to the crime. However, his subsequent cooperation with deputies attempting to locate the discarded knife suggests either genuine remorse, strategic calculation that assistance might benefit him in legal proceedings, or recognition that recovery was inevitable.
Deputies reported that Murphy was wearing a sweatshirt with red stains “believed to be blood” when taken into custody. This physical evidence potentially places her at the immediate crime scene during or shortly after the attack. Forensic testing can confirm the stains’ composition and, if determined to be blood, DNA analysis can establish whether it matches the victim, providing concrete evidence of her proximity to the violence.
Both suspects were booked into Snohomish County Jail on serious assault charges. Murphy faces first-degree assault with a domestic violence designation, whilst DiJulio was charged with first-degree assault. The domestic violence classification applied to Murphy’s charge reflects Washington state law recognising that romantic relationships, including those involving teenagers and former partners, fall within domestic violence statutes.
The affidavit’s notation that the pair’s relationship with the victim qualified the incident for domestic violence designation under state law reflects the legal framework acknowledging that violence between current and former romantic partners constitutes domestic abuse regardless of cohabitation status or formal marriage. This classification typically results in enhanced penalties, mandatory intervention programmes, and protective orders preventing future contact.
