The person at the center of this case
Thomas Crane Wales
Cold Case · Open
24 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 #1Who was the lone male suspect seen fleeing the scene, and why has he not been identified 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 traced?
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person
Lead #3Did Wales' prosecutorial work on white-collar crime cases create enemies with motive to kill him, or was the motive personal?
On October 11, 2001, Thomas Crane Wales, a prominent Assistant United States Attorney specializing in white-collar crime prosecutions, was shot multiple times through a basement window of his Seattle home by an unknown assailant and died the following day. The shooter, described as a lone male, fled the scene after firing several shots from a Makarov semi-automatic handgun with an aftermarket barrel—a weapon with limited distribution in the United States. Despite a $2 million reward and over two decades of investigation, the identity of the killer and motive remain unsolved, leaving open questions about whether the murder was connected to Wales' prosecutorial work or another source.
Case
#477
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) / U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington
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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.
💡
clue
Lead #4What forensic evidence beyond the weapon type exists—ballistics, fingerprints, or DNA—that could identify the shooter?
Have information about any of these leads?
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 shot multiple times through basement window of his Queen Anne home while seated at his desk. Shooter fled the scene.
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2001-10-12
Death at Hospital
Thomas Crane Wales died at hospital from gunshot wounds sustained the previous evening.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:October 11, 2001 at 10:40 PM
Last Updated:June 7, 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:June 7, 2026
Up to $2,000,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case