Federal investigators unable to crack a two-decade cold case involving the murder of Seattle federal prosecutor have upped the reward to $2.5 million.
Thomas Wales, 49, was shot through the basement window of his Queen Anne home on October 11, 2001 by an unidentified shooter.
The reward was upgraded from the previous amount of $1.5 million after 20 years was considered ‘too long’ without any solid information on the murder or the parties responsible.
The announcement to increase the reward was made at the 20th anniversary ceremony at the Tom Wales park, named in his honor, where a Japanese maple tree was planted.
A $2.5 million reward is being offered for more information on the murder of Seattle federal prosecutor Thomas Wales who was killed by an unidentified gunman on October 11, 2001
Wales was an 18-year veteran prosecutor for the Western District of Washington and the president of the gun-control club Washington CeaseFire
Wales was shot several times through his basement window and had died after sustaining fatal injuries to the neck and torso
The handgun used to kill Wales was said to be a Makarov semi-automatic handgun, according to authorities, and had left Wales with fatal injuries to the neck and torso.
A Japanese maple tree, one of Wales’ favorites, was planted in his honor at the Tom Wales memorial park that was opened on the 10th anniversary of his death
Nicholas Brown, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, announced the new reward at the ceremony with $2 million being offered from the Justice Department and the additional $500,000 from the National Association of Former U.S. Attorneys.
‘Twenty years is far too long for this crime — this attack on the American justice system — to go unresolved,’ Brown said at the ceremony, according to Fox 13.
Brown is the sixth attorney on the case and believes that ‘fresh eyes’ on the case might help with the investigation.
The Department of Justice also released a statement on the anniversary of Wales’ death.
Nicholas Brown, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, has stated that the 20-year mystery has taken ‘too long’ and needed ‘fresh eyes’ for the case
The reward fund was upgraded to $2.5 million on Monday following an announcement at Wales’ 20th anniversary memorial service
‘The Department of Justice will never forget Tom’s contributions to the department and the cause of justice, nor will we forget the tragedy of his death,’ Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a press release.
‘Although two decades have passed, the Department of Justice remains committed to this investigation.
‘Somebody knows something about this murder, and we want to do everything we can to encourage them to come forward now.’
Over the years, there have been multiple theories relating to the murder of Thomas Wales.
Wales was an 18-year-veteran attorney of the Western District of Washington who prosecuted on white-collar crime and the president of gun-control group Washington CeaseFire.
The most prominent theory surrounding Wales’ murder was a revenge hit from a pilot who Wales had prosecuted in a case after he and has business partners had allegedly forged documents and violated FAA safety rules to
