A 34-year-old Renton man is charged with first-degree murder after confessing to killing his mother, Leda Louise Files, aged 62
According to court documents, Lowe called 911 on January 21, claiming his mother was dead. When police arrived at their apartment, they found him outside, acting strangely and scrolling through his phone. He mentioned something about having a seizure and then finding his mother unresponsive.
Inside the apartment, officers discovered Files lying face down. She was still warm but had no pulse. Fire personnel noted her face was purple, and there were signs of strangulation. An autopsy later confirmed that her death was a homicide caused by smothering and manual strangulation.
After being taken to the police station, Lowe initially asked for a lawyer. However, while at the hospital for a toxicology exam, he reportedly confessed, saying, “I killed my mother.”
Investigators also found a disturbing video on Lowe’s phone, filmed the night before Files’ death. In it, he can be heard talking to her while she pleads for him to leave her alone. He made bizarre claims about knowing when she would die and even referred to himself as “god.”
Officers found drug paraphernalia at the scene, and Lowe has a history of drug-related arrests. Prosecutors are asking for a hefty bail of $5 million, citing concerns about his potential danger to the community and the risk of him fleeing. It’s a tragic and unsettling situation that has left many in the community in shock.
