4-17-2019
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office identified the Arlington man who was found dead at a campground near Baker Lake over the weekend.
The suspect, 29-year-old Alexander Vanags, reportedly contacted the Snohomish County Sheriff’s office early Saturday saying he had killed his friend at the campground.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office sprung into action and found the body of 28-year-old Mark Stebakov of Arlington at a campsite on the north side of Baker Lake with multiple wounds from a sharp object.
Vanags told deputies Stebakov attacked him and he fought back in self defense.
A gun and a machete with a serrated saw tooth edge that had blood on it were found in Vanags’ vehicle, both of which Vanags told deputies about.
He has been booked into the Whatcom County Jail on the investigation of second degree murder.