A wanted man hitchhiking from the scene of his mother’s murder in Washington was arrested Monday afternoon after he was found covered in blood on the streets of Kalispell.

Matthew Swancara, 24, of Elk, Wash., is in the Flathead County Detention Center. He is being held on preliminary charges of being a fugitive from justice, issuing a bad check and criminal contempt.

Elk is 148 miles from Kalispell.

In Washington, Pend Oreille County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a domestic violence call at the Elk home of Swancara’s mother at about 8:41 p.m. Sunday, where they discovered Sally Swancara, 56, dead from apparent stab wounds.

Sgt. Questin Youk said Matthew Swancara had fled the scene prior to their arrival. Authorities in Montana were notified because Matthew Swancara has ties to the state.

According to the Kalispell Police Department blotter for Monday, a motorist reported stopping to pick up a man along West Idaho Street at approximately 3:48 p.m.

The man, who was covered in blood, told the motorist that he had stabbed his mom.

The motorist described the man to a dispatcher, down to the boot insoles he was wearing for shoes. He said the man was very incoherent and had a large cut on his finger.

Officers apprehended the man without incident about five minutes later and confirmed that it was Swancara.

Kalispell Patrol Capt. Tim Falkner said Detective Scott Warnell was handling the local aspects of the case. On Tuesday afternoon, Warnell and authorities from Washington were interviewing Swancara.