UPDATE: Earlier this evening, with the assistance and tips received by citizens, Detectives have identified and located the female in these surveillance photos.
She is safe, uninjured, and is currently cooperating with the Detectives as they work to thoroughly investigate this brutal crime.
As this is an active investigation, no further information is available for release at this time
We would like to thank everyone who called and provided information as well as the media outlets who helped get these photos out to our community.
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Detectives Investigating Violent Assault Work to Identify Female
After viewing several hours of video surveillance, Sexual Assault Unit Detectives learned Michael Rush arrived at the Cenex Zip Trip Store several hours prior to returning and violently assaulting the store employee.
Investigators would like to identify the female in these pictures and make sure she’s not injured. The video shows she arrives with Rush in a black 1998 Honda Accord (pictured) around 1:00 a.m. on January 13, 2018, just hours before the brutal crime.
Detectives Rob Satake would like this unidentified female, or anyone who can help identify her, to call him at 509-477-6319.
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Suspect Arrest at Scene of Early Morning Violent Assault
Spokane Valley Deputies responding to an alarm at the Cenex Zip Trip early this morning arrested 36-year-old Michael D. Rush who was still inside the store. The store clerk/victim, who had been viciously beaten and sexually assaulted, was found inside the bathroom of the business.
Early this morning, just before 5:00 a.m., Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a panic alarm at the Cenex Zip Trip Store, located at 8215 E. Trent, in Spokane Valley.
Already in the area, Deputies arrived quickly and found the 24-hour store dark inside with the front door unlocked. When they began to enter, they contacted a male later identified as Rush, exiting the bathroom. Rush was immediately detained as Deputies worked to locate anyone else inside the business.
The injured adult female (early 40s) victim was found inside the bathroom partially dressed. She told Deputies she had been beaten, strangled, and sexually assaulted, by Rush. She received immediate medical attention at the scene and was transported to local hospital for serious but, believed to be, non-life-threatening injuries.
Spokane Valley Major Crimes Unit Detectives were called to the scene to continue the investigation.
Rush, a convicted felon and a Level 3 Registered Sex Offender from Chelan County, was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Rape 1st Degree and Assault 2nd Degree.
This investigation is ongoing and no additional information is available at this time.
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