Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist announced today he will not seek the death penalty for a Spanaway man who pleaded guilty to killing his wife and daughter.
Instead, Lindquist will recommend that Dean Holmes be sentenced to two life terms in prison without the possibility of parole. Holmes pleaded guilty earlier this month to two counts of aggravated first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of his wife, Kristi, and 11-year-old daughter, Violet.
"Dean Holmes will be spending the rest of his life in prison with no chance of parole," Lindquist said. "I made this decision after consultation with leaders in the office. We took into account the severity of his crimes, his remorse as demonstrated by his surrender to law enforcement and expeditious plea of guilty, his lack of felony criminal history, the likelihood of the death penalty being upheld, and other factors. We also talked with the family and they are supportive of this decision. Balancing all considerations, I believe justice is achieved by two life sentences without the possibility of parole.”
Holmes told investigators he killed his wife and child because he was distraught over financial issues and was afraid his wife would leave him and take his daughter with her.
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