Letter May Be Linked to 2001 Killer

FBI Seeking Information
Letter May Be Linked to 2001 Killer

Envelope allegedly from gunman of USA Thomas C. Wales

04/17/06

An anonymous letter sent to FBI officials purportedly from a gunman who shot United States Attorney Thomas C. Wales in his Seattle home in 2001 is prompting a renewed call for the public’s assistance. A $1 million reward is being offered in the case.

The Anonymous Letter

Re: Thomas C Wales
OK, so I was broke and between jobs I got an anonymous call offering $xxxx to shoot the guy, so I drove to Seattle to do the job. I did not even know his name. Just got laid off from a job. Nice talking lady, I didn’t know her name, she called me, talked to me by name, and asked if I needed some money. I agreed to pursue the matter, hell, I was going bankrupt.
Go to Seattle, heck I lived there once, no big deal. Hang out in this guy’s backyard, she even gave me the address. Stop off at a place, pick up our gun, and drop it off at a specified location when you are done. THEN, you will be directed to where your money is. The wife was out of town, I had no witnesses here, I was curious about who knew me so well. I used cash to pay for all my expenses to avoid an audit trail. No cell phone. I was directed to a place to pick up the gun, they wanted me to use, and an address. The gun was there.
I drove to the address, and then parked some distance away, north of downtown. I kind of camped out in the backyard of this house, and waited for the guy to settle in at his computer. Once he was there, I took careful aim. I shot two or possibly more times, and watched him collapse. I absurdly waited a few minutes and then left. I was sure he was dead. Retracing my steps, I dropped off the gun, found my money, and returned to Vegas. I feel bad about it, but I needed the money, and there were no witnesses. I really don’t know who fronted the money, but the $xxxx was there, and I sure needed it.

(A portion of the letter has been omitted to ensure investigative integrity.)

Wales, an 18-year veteran of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Seattle who prosecuted white-collar crimes cases, was shot at about 10:40 p.m. through his basement window as he sat at his desk working on his computer on October 11, 2001. It was reported that a lone male suspect was seen fleeing the scene.

A letter, postmarked January 23, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a return address name “Gidget” was sent to the FBI’s field office in Seattle, which is jointly investigating the homicide with the Seattle Police Department. The 308-word letter claims to be the gunman’s first-person account of the shooting. The writer claims to have been hired by an anonymous woman to travel from Las Vegas to Seattle for the purpose of killing Wales. The writer purportedly was instructed to pick up and drop off a gun at a specified location, after which the shooter would be “directed to where your money is.

”The letter—which begins, “OK, so I was broke and between jobs…”—was analyzed by profilers in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The letter contains some factual inconsistencies and unrealistic claims. The letter does not contain any details that have not already been released to the public. Nevertheless, the profilers believe the letter’s author could be connected to the murder.

Investigators believe the return address name “Gidget” may be a term the writer has used in other contexts, in the past and present. “Gidget” was the title of a movie and television show in the 1960s. The return address on the envelope is a commercial address in Las Vegas with no apparent connection to the crime.

The Department of Justice is offering a $1 million reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for U.S. Attorney Wales’ murder. Anyone who can provide information about this letter or the identity of the author is asked to contact the FBI toll free at (866) 322-7009, or write to: FBI, 1110 Third Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101.

Links: Seeking Information: Thomas Crane Wales

Note: The individuals pictured or identified here may have been apprehended or may no longer be wanted by law enforcement since the above information was posted on this website. Please check our Wanted by the FBI website or contact your local FBI office for up-to-date information.

07.13.10