SPOKANE VALLEY -- The Spokane County Sheriff's Office arrested Daniel Arteaga, 40, Tuesday afternoon in the murder of Kimberly Schmidt.
Investigators executed a search warrant at Arteaga's home near Valleyway and Hodges in the Spokane Valley and took Arteaga into custody shortly before noon.
Kimberly Schmidt, 35, was found dead in her North Spokane County home on New Year's Day. She died from a gunshot wound to the head. Daniel Arteaga became a person of interest in January ago after Schmidt was found dead in her home.
According to search warrants released in March, Arteaga had seen Schmidt the day she died. The court documents say Arteaga left Schmidt sleeping in her bedroom around 4:00 a.m.
In the court documents Arteaga is described as Schmidt's former boyfriend. He was also listed as a co-defendant with Schmidt in a civil lawsuit involving scuba diving instruction. They're accused of negligence in a diving accident.
Neighbors told KREM 2 News on scene Tuesday that Arteaga kept to himself. Arteaga lives with a wife and child.
Arteaga is in the Spokane County Jail and should make his first court appearance Wednesday.
Kimberly Schmidt’s mother Toni released the following statement to KREM 2 News Tuesday: “It has been a very difficult eight months for the family and friends of Kim. Not a day goes by when i'm not asked when will there be an arrest, that day has come and we must have trust in the justice system to now bring justice for Kim. We thank the Sheriff's Detective for all their hard work and desire to solve this case.”
KREM 2's Katie Utehs contributed to this story.
