BY MIKE NOLTING
A man wanted in the murder of his estranged wife in a Pittsburgh suburb was arrested on I-79 near Morgantown Monday morning.
Members of the U.S. Marshals Mountain State Task Force, the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police, the Westover Police Department and the Star City Police Department arrested William Fitzgerald, 50, of Pennsylvania, on I-79 northbound, near the Star City exit.
Fitzgerald is accused of the stabbing death of his estranged wife, Tarea Washington, 47, of Arlington, Pa.
She was found handcuffed and stabbed in her home.
A witness told police Washington and Fitzgerald were going through a divorce that was to be final in February.
Records show Washington filed for divorce Nov. 1.
Acting U.S. Marshal for Northern West Virginia Terry Moore said they notified law enforcement agencies in Harrison, Marion and Monongalia counties that Fitzgerald could be traveling on I-79 after receiving information from police in Pennsylvania.
“From the time that our request came in to the time he was apprehended in Monongalia County, it was less than one hour,” Moore said. “They were able to get behind him on I-79, and the subject pulled over before the traffic stop was initiated when he saw multiple cruisers behind him,” Moore said.
Fitzgerald had ties to the Morgantown area, according to Moore.
“I believe he used to live in the Morgantown area. I don’t know if he relocated to Pennsylvania or if the crime was committed in that area.”
Fitzgerald will face extradition back to Pennsylvania.
