The murder case against Kyle Cathcart has drawn attention to Jodi Cathcart’s work with foster families and the children who were home during the attack.
COVINGTON, Wash. — Three young children were inside their Covington home when their mother was killed, prosecutors say, and their father is now jailed on a first-degree murder charge in the stabbing death.
Jodi Ann Cathcart, 36, was remembered by friends and coworkers as a mother of three and an assistant codirector at Foster Champs of Washington, a group connected to foster families. Prosecutors say she was stabbed at least 48 times May 1 at the family’s home on 186th Place Southeast. Her husband, Kyle Wayland Cathcart, 41, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with a deadly weapon enhancement. His bail remains set at $60 million.
The children, ages 7, 5 and 3, are now with relatives, according to local reports. Prosecutors say they were in the home during the attack and close enough to hear what happened. In charging papers, Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Thomas O’Ban wrote that Cathcart killed Jodi Cathcart while the children were “just a few yards away” and within listening range of her screams. The children were not reported physically injured. The state used their presence, the number of wounds and the alleged staging of the scene to argue that Cathcart posed a danger and should be held on a high bail amount while the case moves forward.
Authorities were first called to the home after Cathcart reported a home invasion. He told dispatchers and deputies that an intruder had stabbed his wife and that he had fought the attacker. Deputies found Jodi Cathcart dead in a bedroom. Cathcart had superficial wounds to his abdomen, swelling near an eye, a bruised eye and an injury to his hand, according to court documents. He said the attacker wore a dark hoodie, was close to his own size and had blue eyes. He also said he lost consciousness during the struggle and could not explain exactly when the attacker left. Investigators found a kitchen knife in a hallway and no clear sign of forced entry.
For those who knew Jodi Cathcart through her work, the official account of her death was followed by public grief and efforts to support her children. Friends and coworkers shared her name before the medical examiner’s formal identification was reported, describing her as someone tied to foster care work and family support. Foster Champs of Washington coworkers started a fundraiser for the children and family. The public posts focused on care for the children and the sudden loss of their mother, while court documents focused on the details of the killing, the scene and the statements investigators say Cathcart later made.
Detectives said the reported home invasion began to unravel after they reviewed the home’s Ring camera footage. The video showed a person in dark clothing leaving the residence after the attack, according to court documents. Investigators did not find footage of anyone entering the home before Jodi Cathcart was killed. Police said the person leaving appeared similar to Cathcart in height and build. They also noted a white tag on the back of the hooded garment, which suggested it was being worn inside out. When asked about clothing, Cathcart denied owning black sweatpants but said he owned a black sweatshirt that read “Karate Dad.”
The clothing seen in the footage led detectives toward a neighbor’s property. Investigators found black clothing on top of a garbage pile, including a hoodie with the words “Karate Mom.” Police said the hoodie tested positive for blood. Jodi Cathcart’s mother identified it as belonging to her daughter. Detectives also reported blood near the home’s garage door keypad and said someone with access could reenter that way without being shown on the front or back door cameras. Investigators wrote that the person in the camera, the bloody clothing and the garage access supported probable cause that Cathcart was the person who killed his wife.
After his arrest in Renton, Cathcart allegedly changed his account. Detectives said he admitted he had planned to kill Jodi Cathcart, put on her clothing, stabbed her with a kitchen knife and then tried to make the scene look like a burglary. Police said he told them he removed items from her wallet, discarded clothing near the home and reentered through the garage because he knew he would not be seen by the camera. He also allegedly said he smeared blood on the garage door and placed the knife in the hallway. Investigators said he claimed he tried to kill himself with the same knife, but it was too dull.
Charging papers also point to money as a possible motive. Cathcart told investigators that he and Jodi Cathcart had civil lawsuits pending with expected payouts of more than $61 million, including one he said was due on the day she died. Prosecutors allege that he had lied about supposed incoming lawsuit money and killed his wife to keep her from discovering it. The defense has not publicly tested that claim in court, and Cathcart’s not guilty plea keeps the burden on prosecutors to prove the allegation. The court record now includes the state’s theory, but no trial finding has been made.
The first court hearings have focused on probable cause, charging and custody. A judge found probable cause after Cathcart’s arrest, and prosecutors filed a first-degree murder charge with a deadly weapon enhancement. Cathcart entered his not guilty plea May 18 at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. The case is expected to continue through pretrial hearings, where attorneys may address evidence from the camera system, search warrants, interviews, clothing tests, medical findings and the statements police say Cathcart made after his arrest.
For Jodi Cathcart’s family, the court case is moving alongside a private loss. Her children remain with relatives as the prosecution proceeds. Cathcart remains jailed on $60 million bail, and the next major steps will be set by King County Superior Court as attorneys prepare for further hearings.
Author note: Last updated May 27, 2026.