WENATCHEE, Wash. - Wenatchee police have arrested a suspect in the death of Mackenzie Cowell.
The 17-year-old was last seen alive on Feb. 9 at the Academy of Hair Design where she was a student. Her body was found at Crescent Bar four days later.
Wenatchee police say the suspect is 29-year-old Christopher Scott Wilson. He's being held for investigation of second-degree murder. Investigators say Wilson was also a student at the Academy of Hair Design and left the beauty school around the same time Cowell did on Feb. 9.
'We're still looking into conducting interviews regarding how deep that relationship might have been,' said Capt. Doug Jones with the Mackenzie Cowell task force.
Police say forensic experts at the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab were able to tie the suspect's DNA profile to DNA found on a piece of duct tape recovered from where Cowell's body was found. Cowell's blood was also found on the piece of duct tape.
Wilson has no prior criminal history.
A neighbor says he considers Wilson unstable. He says he's lived in Wenatchee for 20 years and never locked his door until he met Wilson.
Investigators have served several search warrants, including one on Wilson's apartment located near the beauty school. Police are continuing to interview potential witnesses for further information.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the River Com Dispatch Center at (509) 663-9911.
