The person at the center of this case
Thomas Crane Wales
Cold Case · Open
25 years waiting · since 2001
THOMAS CRANE WALES
Justice for Thomas Crane Wales — the trail went cold in 2001, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1A lone male suspect was seen fleeing the scene—what evidence could identify this person after 25 years?
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evidence
Lead #2The murder weapon was a Makarov semi-automatic handgun with an aftermarket stainless steel barrel; how many of these specific barrels were sold in the U.S., and have all been tested?
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person
Lead #3Wales prosecuted white-collar crime cases for 18 years—could a convicted defendant or associate have sought revenge?
On October 11, 2001, Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Crane Wales was shot multiple times through a basement window of his Seattle home by a lone male suspect and died the following day. Wales had spent 18 years prosecuting white-collar crime cases for the Western District of Washington, making him a potential target for those he had convicted or investigated. Despite a $2 million reward and forensic evidence identifying a Makarov semi-automatic handgun with an aftermarket barrel as the murder weapon, the case remains unsolved and the shooter has never been identified.
Case
#477
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) / U.S. Department of Justice
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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location
Lead #4Why was Wales working at his basement desk late at night, and was his routine known to potential suspects?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Murder Victim Seattle, Washington October 11, 2001 On the night of October 11, 2001, at approximately 10:40 p.m., Thomas Crane Wales was killed in his home in Seattle, Washington. Wales worked for the Western District of Washington as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for over 18 years, prosecuting white collar crime cases on behalf of the United States of America.
The shooter stood in the backyard of AUSA Wales' home and shot him several times through a basement window as he sat at his desk typing on his computer. It has been reported that a lone male suspect was seen fleeing the scene.
Wales died at a hospital the next day. Remarks: Born in 1952, Thomas Wales grew up in Southborough, Massachusetts.
Tom was a graduate of Harvard University ('74) and Hofstra Law School ('79), where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the law review. In 1983, Tom became an Assistant United States Attorney in Seattle, Washington, where he specialized in fraud prosecutions.
In addition to his work as a prosecutor, Tom was very active in civic organizations and public service. Tom served as a member of the Seattle Planning Commission, and was on the Mayor's Citizen Advisory Committee.
Thomas Wales is survived by two adult children.
Timeline of Events
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2001-10-11
22:40Murder of Thomas Crane Wales
AUSA Thomas Crane Wales was shot multiple times through a basement window of his home in the Queen Anne neighborhood while sitting at his desk. He was transported to a hospital where he died the next day.
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2001-10-12
Death at Hospital
Thomas Wales died from his injuries sustained in the shooting.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:October 11, 2001 at 10:40 PM
Last Updated:October 22, 2026
Up to $2,000,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
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Case Information
Incident:October 11, 2001 at 10:40 PM
Last Updated:October 22, 2026
Up to $2,000,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case