Man arrested in connection with Venice rape, murder

VENICE — A pregnant 39-year-old woman was raped and murdered in Venice, and a 22-year-old man was in custody, police said today.

The woman, who was 18 weeks pregnant with twins, was attacked at 10 p.m. Tuesday in the 1600 block of Electric Avenue, near Venice Boulevard, in Venice.

Officers responding saw the suspect fleeing from the home and quickly took him into custody without incident.

Boneetio Kentro Washington of Culver City was booked for suspicion of murder with special circumstances and is being held at Van Nuys Jail without bail.

Washington was tentatively scheduled to be arraigned Thursday.

When officers entered the victim's home, they found her suffering from multiple stab wounds. She was taken to a hospital where she died.

The victim's family is out of town and her identity is being withheld for that reason.

Anyone with information on the killing was asked to call detectives Luis Carranza or Joe Lumbreras at (310) 482-6313.