WA Gov. Bob Ferguson cancels parole for Timothy Pauley, man convicted of 1980 triple murder
KING COUNTY, Wash. - Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has canceled parole for Timothy Pauley, a man responsible for a brutal triple murder in Seatac that happened nearly 45 years ago.
Ferguson spoke out publicly against former Governor Jay Inslee, who also canceled Pauley's parole, but rescinded it on the last day of his term.
The backstory:
Pauley murdered three people inside a Seatac family diner on June 12, 1980. He committed the crimes with an accomplice, armed with a loaded gun, and tied up five different victims.
According to records, Pauley forced three women to remove their clothing and tied electrical cords around their necks. One of the women was hung to a bar railing, later causing her to suffocate and die. Pauley also shot and killed two men after taking them back to the cooler, while they were also bound.
Pauley pled guilty to three counts of first-degree murder for his crimes, and in 1981, received a maximum term of life in prison. He has since served over four decades in prison, and is now approximately 66 years old.
The Indeterminate Sentence Review Board, which has the ability to set parole for certain offenders, determined Pauley had completed the required rehabilitation criteria and scheduled him to be released on July 2, 2022. However, Inslee canceled the board's order, saying he "distanced himself from his actions" and never directly acknowledged the victims by name or apologized to their families.
But on January 14, 2025, Inslee reinstated his decision, which granted Pauley's parole release on March 27, 2025. Now, Gov. Bob Ferguson is canceling it again, meaning Pauley will remain in prison.
Man responsible for horrific 1980 SeaTac triple murder denied parole by Gov. Inslee
By order of Washington Governor Jay Inslee, the man responsible for a horrific triple-murder robbery in 1980 will not be released from prison on parole due to the killer's failure to "demonstrate both a full acceptance of his responsibility and remorse."
Ferguson cited several reasons for keeping Pauley behind bars, despite the ISRB saying he had shown signs of rehabilitation.
The biggest factor was a 2012 letter Pauley wrote to his brother, which described a Department of Corrections staff member as a "subhuman entity" and a "pathetic, inbred sh**stain on humanity." He also claimed to have had "a bunch of crazy ideas floating through my head about how to make this a**hole miserable." The letter allegedly went on to dehumanize other DOC staff, adding that he "can't really argue with" other inmates "ranting about how they all need to be killed."
Ferguson also points to other observations from ISRB's records, including possible signs of substance abuse, as he failed a drug test in 2019 and denied having used anything but marijuana, despite reporting frequent use of speed, LSD, cocaine, and other narcotics after his crime.
It's also believed Pauley possibly "denied, downplayed, or has little insight into potential problems he may have," according to a 2019 psychological evaluation. Ferguson called into question the reliability of assessments into Pauley's psychological well-being and risk of reoffending, believing he learned certain responses that would give off more favorable results.
Despite Pauley's rehabilitation, Ferguson questioned "whether this comes from a place of true remorse rather than self-interest in being paroled."
Ferguson signed the order denying Pauley's release on parole supervision on March 25, 2025.
The Source: Information in this story is from an order signed by Governor Bob Ferguson, documentation from the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board, and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Deputies shoot suspect in Spanaway, WA
‘Happy Face’ serial killer nearly confessed brutal murders to WA teen daughter
Police investigate DV shooting at Redmond, WA, apartment complex
Two teens arrested after shooting at father, son near Kitsap Mall in WA
Bobcat or cougar? Magnolia residents report close call with wild cat
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.