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Seattle Man Accused of Killing Homeless Men with Ax Has Double-Murder Case Dismissed
The dismissal ends the criminal case but does not decide whether Liam Harrison Kryger committed the killings, and a civil commitment evaluation was ordered.
- On Thursday, King County Superior Court Judge Nelson Lee dismissed two first-degree murder charges against Liam Harrison Kryger after finding him mentally incompetent to stand trial for the 2024 killings of two men.
- Kryger was accused of murdering Paul Ernest Ewell and Daravuth Van with an axe during separate 2024 attacks, following three unsuccessful rounds of competency restoration at Western State Hospital.
- A forensic evaluator diagnosed Kryger with schizophrenia, autism, and traumatic brain injury, concluding his risk for reoffending is "elevated compared to the general population."
- Judge Lee signed an order for Kryger to undergo civil commitment evaluation at Western State, ensuring he is not released to the streets while the criminal case remains dismissed.
- Prosecutors with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office may refile murder charges if Kryger's competency improves, as state law provides provisions for notifying prosecutors if his mental condition changes.
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Case dismissed over competency but suspect in First Hill homeless murders won’t go free
A King County Superior Court judge has dismissed two counts of first-degree murder against Liam Kryger after state evaluators determined he remains incompetent to stand trial. The dismissal won’t be mean Kryger will be set free. Following Thursday’s dismissal, the King County Prosecutor’s Office said Kryger’s case will now shift to an evaluation for civil commitment: When someone is found not competent and there are no other options under the la…
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left2Leaning Right7Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Right
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources lean Right
58% Right
L 17%
C 25%
R 58%
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