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
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suspect
Lead #1Who was the lone male suspect seen fleeing the scene on the night of the murder?
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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 United States, and to whom?
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person
Lead #3Did Wales' white-collar crime prosecutions create enemies who might have targeted him for retaliation?
On October 11, 2001, Thomas Crane Wales, an Assistant United States Attorney specializing in white-collar crime prosecutions, was shot multiple times through a basement window of his Seattle home while working at his desk. The gunman, identified as a lone male suspect, fired from the backyard using a Makarov semi-automatic handgun and fled the scene; Wales died at the hospital the following day. Despite a $2 million reward and ongoing FBI investigation, the shooter's identity remains unknown, and investigators continue seeking information about the limited-circulation aftermarket barrel used in the murder weapon.
Case
#477
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - Seattle Field Office; U.S. Attorney's Office for the 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.
👁️
witness
Lead #4What information do potential witnesses in the Queen Anne neighborhood have about the suspect's appearance, vehicle, or escape route?
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
At approximately 10:40 p.m., Thomas Crane Wales was shot multiple times through a basement window of his Queen Anne home while sitting at his desk. A lone male suspect was seen fleeing the scene.
🔍
2001-10-12
Death at hospital
Thomas Crane Wales died at the hospital the day after being shot.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:October 11, 2001 at 10:40 PM
Last Updated:September 11, 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:September 11, 2026
Up to $2,000,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case