Michael Dudley was sentenced to more than 46 years in prison for killing a couple who rented a room in his home, then dismembering their bodies.
www.seattletimes.com
4/7/23
Austin Wenner, 27, and Jessica Lewis, 35, were killed in 2020. Their landlord was sentenced to more than 46 years in prison Friday. (Courtesy Gina Jaschke)
During trial, Dudley’s defense team criticized the Seattle police investigation as shoddy, impugned the credibility of the state’s star witness and said an attic-to-basement search of Dudley’s house by State Patrol “blood experts” didn’t turn up any evidence — other than the smudge of Wenner’s blood. Firearms experts also agreed three bullets found in the bedroom had not gone through a human body. No blood was found inside Dudley’s vehicles, either.
The state countered that by the time Dudley was arrested Aug. 19, 2020, he had had two months and 10 days to clean up his home.
Defense attorney Bradley Barshis said Friday that Dudley maintains “other people committed this crime” and that Lewis and Wenner were scared of a group of people who had previously held them at gunpoint inside Dudley’s house. He argued for a 30-year sentence that would see Dudley released by age 90.
Barshis indicated Dudley intends to appeal his conviction.
In a brief statement to the judge, Dudley said Lewis’ and Wenner’s deaths had nothing to do with unpaid rent, referencing a possible motive suggested by a witness who told police Dudley had accused the couple of stealing from him, failing to pay rent and resisting his efforts to get them to leave.
“This isn’t really about me — it’s about justice for Austin and Jessica, and when all things are considered, I’m sure the truth will come out,” he said. “In the end they did good, despite their pernicious nature.”
In handing down her sentence, Sutton said the facts of the case are not what the court commonly sees in second-degree murder cases.
“Two human beings were murdered, but I think it’s what happened after that that is challenging to understand,” Sutton said. “Ms. Lewis and Mr. Wenner may not have been perfect in their lives, but I don’t think of people as ‘pernicious.’ “
She said the fact the victims’ full remains have never been found is its own tragedy.
