31st District Reps. Drew Stokesbary, Joshua Penner urge Governor Bob Ferguson to block parole of triple murderer Timothy Pauley

Thirty-First District Representatives Drew Stokesbary and Joshua Penner have formally urged Governor Bob Ferguson to block the parole of convicted triple murderer Timothy Pauley, whose release is set for March 27. Pauley’s premeditated and brutal crimes in 1980 at a SeaTac tavern resulted in the deaths of three innocent individuals and left two survivors with lifelong trauma. In their letter, Stokesbary and Penner remind Governor Ferguson of his campaign pledge, featured on his website, about “standing up for survivors of violent crime,” urging him to honor that commitment by preventing Pauley’s release and protecting the victims’ families from further emotional harm. They also highlight the concerns of Bonney Lake residents, where Pauley is expected to reside if released, emphasizing the profound impact his newfound freedom would have on the community.

The letter below:

March 24, 2025

The Honorable Bob Ferguson
Governor of Washington
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Dear Governor Ferguson:

On March 27, convicted triple murderer Timothy Pauley is scheduled for parole. We urge you to exercise the authority vested in you as governor of Washington to prevent his release.

The facts of Pauley’s crimes are horrifying. In 1980, at the age of 21, he and an accomplice entered the Barn Door Tavern near SeaTac, armed with a revolver and a knife. They bound five innocent people—three women and two men—with extension cords, forced the women to undress, and marched night manager Loran Dowell and bartender Robert Pierre into a walk-in cooler. There, Pauley executed both men with point-blank shots to the head. He then strangled Linda Burford to death by tying a cord around her neck and hanging her from a bar rail. The two survivors, Margaret Dowell and Sherri Beckham, endured unimaginable torture and trauma. Margaret’s family has stated she bore permanent scars, both physical and emotional, until her passing last year. She was never the same because of Timothy Pauley.

These crimes were not impulsive acts. They were premeditated, calculated, and merciless. That is why Pauley was sentenced to three life terms. And that is why his release in three days would serve as an appalling betrayal of the victims and their families—not to mention fundamental principles of justice.

During your campaign for governor, you repeatedly assured Washingtonians that public safety would be one of your top priorities. In fact, even today your campaign website contains a headline proclaiming that you are “standing up for survivors of violent crime.”

If you stand by and allow Pauley to be freed after brutally murdering three people and irreparably damaging two others, those words will ring hollow—not just to his victims and their families, but to crime victims and families everywhere. And you will be responsible for unleashing a fresh wave of devastating emotional trauma on the victims’ families.

In 2022, Governor Inslee denied Timothy Pauley’s parole, citing his failure to take responsibility or apologize to the victims’ families. Yet in his final days in office, Inslee inexplicably reversed course, blindsiding the families who believed justice was secure.

He failed those families. We hope you will not.

Kelly Tarp, whose father Loran Dowell was murdered that night, has pleaded for you to “overturn the injustice that Inslee did on his way out the door.”

The residents of Bonney Lake, where Pauley is expected to reside if released, are also understandably alarmed by the prospect of a triple murderer walking freely among them. Bonney Lake Mayor Terry Carter has written you a letter to convey his constituents’ concerns, as well as his own. As representatives of the same constituents, we join in Mayor Carter’s call for you to cancel Pauley’s parole.

Your office has acknowledged the gravity of this moment, noting that you are reviewing the extensive record and meeting with the victims’ families. We commend you for that, but ultimately, your actions will define your legacy.

This not just a legal decision; it is a moral one. The people of Washington are watching. The families who have suffered for decades are counting on you. Will you honor your promise to stand up for survivors of violent crime? Will you act in the name of justice, ensuring a convicted triple murderer remains behind bars and that the voices of Pauley’s victims are never forgotten?

Governor Ferguson, this is a defining moment for your administration.

We urge you to make the right decision and ensure Timothy Pauley is held fully accountable for his actions by blocking his release into our community.

Sincerely,

Rep. Drew Stokesbary                      
House Republican Leader                           
31st Legislative District

Rep. Joshua Penner
31st Legislative District

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov