Washougal man arrested after allegedly stabbing, killing wife

WASHOUGAL — A 56-year-old Washougal man is due in Clark County Superior Court on Wednesday morning in the stabbing death of his wife.

Robert W. Burdick called 911 at 2:05 a.m. Tuesday from an apartment complex in the 600 block of West Lookout Ridge Drive. He said he was armed with butcher knives and was holding his wife hostage in their home, according to a Washougal Police Department news release.

“The man told the dispatcher, ‘I want you guys to come here and shoot me,’ ” police said. The dispatcher could hear what sounded like a struggle going on in the background.

Police responded and spotted a light shining from the window of a third-story apartment. Linda Burdick opened the window and yelled for help as officers approached the building, but “a man holding a large knife over his head came up behind the woman and pulled her away from the window,” police said.

She continued to scream for help as officers climbed two flights of stairs. Police forced their way into the Burdicks’ apartment, found the husband and reportedly took him into custody without incident.

Linda Burdick 49, died later at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver after undergoing emergency surgery for multiple stab wounds to the upper body.

Robert Burdick faces an allegation of first-degree murder. Washougal police are asking anyone who may have pertinent information to call detectives at 360-835-8701.