The girlfriend of Alan Justin Smith, the Bothell man accused of killing his estranged wife early last year, died April 8 in Seattle.

According to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, Love Thai committed suicide. Marks around her neck indicate she died from a rope or something around her neck.

Thai lived at Pacific Court in Tukwila. The apartment manager could not confirm if Thai had died in her home.

Thai told the Reporter in July 2013 she was pregnant with Smith’s child and there was an ultrasound photo posted to her personal Facebook account around the same time. The medical examiner’s office could not confirm if Thai was still pregnant at the time of her death.

Lawyers for Smith asked a judge to push back his murder trial this week so they could have more time to prepare. Smith’s trial date was moved from May 2 to June 13, according to Craig Matheson, senior deputy prosecuting attorney at Snohomish County Prosectors Office.

“While certainly tragic, I don’t think [Thai’s death] will affect the trial at all,” Matheson said.

Smith, who plead not guilty in July, is accused of killing his estranged wife last February and sits in the Snohomish County Jail on $1 million bail. Smith is accused of murdering his wife Susann Smith, who was found on Feb. 12, face down, beaten and drown to death in the bathtub of her Bothell home while her two kids were away, according to court documents. She had defensive wounds on her hands and arms, a fractured skull, and 19 separate blunt force strikes, according to court documents. She had to be identified by her dental records.

Alan Smith moved back into the home with Love Thai in April 2013 and had hopes of regaining custody of his two young children, who had been taken by Washington State Child Protective Services.

Alan Smith and Thai seemed to have a rocky relationship as police were called to Alan Smith’s home for various incidents during May 2013, including a report of Alan Smith and Thai having sex in the front yard and for a domestic disturbance.

When Alan Smith was charged June 28, 2013, he said his life was in “chaos.” He stated that he was over his head “with Love Thai and her mental issues,” according to charging documents.

When Alan Smith appeared in court September 23, 2013 on a misdemeanor charge of obstruction, Thai, was there to defend him. At the time, the two lived together in the home where Susann Smith was killed.

“I feel absolutely safe — absolutely. We argue, we throw things, but we don’t hurt each other,” Thai said at the time.

She also believed that Alan Smith was capable of killing.

“I don’t know what his threshold is,” she said. “Is the possibility and the capability there? Yes.”

But she said she was in love and trusted Alan Smith completely.

“He said he did not do it,” Thai said. “So, I stand by him and the truth will always set people free.”

Alan Smith and his attorney could not be reached for comment.