Murder Case Filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Shortly after noon on Tuesday, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Alexander Jay with Murder in the First Degree.
Mr. Jay has remained in custody since March after his arrest by police and the immediate filing of charges by King County prosecutors in the light rail felony assault case. King County prosecutors also filed a separate felony assault case for a downtown Seattle stabbing that was referred to us by Sheriff’s deputies after Mr. Jay was already in custody. We argued for him to be held on a combined $650,000 bail in those felony assault cases.
The murder occurred the morning of March 3 in Seattle and was referred to prosecutors after additional investigation by Seattle Police, after Mr. Jay was in custody. We appreciate the detailed and dogged work done by the case detective in this matter which allowed us to file the first-degree murder case Tuesday afternoon.
Prosecutors argued for $5 million bail in the murder case (making the total bail amount in the three cases $5,650,000).
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed each felony case that’s been referred to us and have argued for high bail amounts in each. None of the cases have been dismissed, and prosecutors continue to argue against defense motions to dismiss.
Defense motion to dismiss felony assault cases — and prosecutors’ objections
At 2 p.m. this afternoon, there is a hearing by Mr. Jay’s defense attorney to dismiss the assault cases. Even if a judge agrees to that dismissal, Mr. Jay would remain in custody because of today’s murder case filing today by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is arguing against Mr. Jay’s release, as we have at each opportunity previously. We noted that dismissal is not appropriate and that mismanagement by the Department of Social and Health Services should not be attributed to the prosecuting attorney’s office handling the violent assault cases. (See the attached document.)
Timeline of Events
March 2, 11:39 a.m.: Police and prosecutors say Alexander Jay attacked and threw a woman down the stairs at Union Station, 401 S. Jackson Street. (After the case was sent to prosecutors by police investigators it was charged immediately.) Seattle Police also posted a public notice on March 2 trying to identify the attacker, later identified as Jay.
March 2, 11:48 a.m.: Police and prosecutors say Alexander Jay stabbed a woman at a bus shelter near 12th Avenue South and South Jackson Street. (After the case was sent to prosecutors by police investigators it was charged immediately.)
March 3: 12:26 a.m.: Police and prosecutors say Alexander Jay attacked a stranger in the 1800 block of East Olive Way in Seattle, killing him. (This is the case charge by prosecutors today after additional investigation from Seattle Police.)
March 10: Alexander Jay is booked into the King County Jail.
March 11: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office files the felony charge of Assault in the Second Degree against Alexander Jay and argued that he should be held on $150,000 because he’s a danger to the community. He remains in the King County Jail after prosecutors’ argument to hold him.
March 25: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office files a second case against Mr. Jay — a felony Assault in the First Degree case — and argued that he should be held on $500,000 in that case because he’s a danger to the community. Mr. Jail remains in jail after the prosecutors’ bail arguments. This case was referred to prosecutors by the King County Sheriff’s Office while Mr. Jay was already in custody for the first felony assault case.
April 25: A judge in the two felony assault cases orders felony competency restoration treatment. This is inpatient treatment so Mr. Jail will remain in custody. This order comes after the court determines Mr. Jail lacks the capacity to understand the nature of the proceedings against him and/or assist in his own defense. This does not mean that either case is dismissed
May 19: Mr. Jay’s defense attorney files a motion to dismiss the felony assault cases arguing that the delays by the Department of Social and Health Services to Western State Hospital are too long and a violation of his constitutional rights. DSHS and Western State are separate from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
June 7: In a response filing, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office argues that dismissing the felony assault cases is not appropriate and argues that the court should deny the defense motion to dismiss the cases.
June 9: At a court hearing, a judge denies the motion to dismiss the felony assault cases, but orders the State Department of Social and Health Services — separate from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office — to pay $250 each day that he is not admitted for restoration treatment.
Aug. 8: Mr. Jay’s defense makes another motion to dismiss his felony assault cases arguing that the lack of facilities for competency restoration by the Department of Social and Heath Services (which is separate from the prosecutor’s office) violates Mr. Jay’s due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment.
Aug. 12: In a response briefing, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office argued against Mr. Jay’s release — as we have at each opportunity previously. Prosecutors note that dismissal is not appropriate, and that mismanagement by the Department of Social and Health Services should not be attributed to the prosecuting attorney’s office handling the violent assault cases.
Aug. 16: The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charges Mr. Jay with Murder in the First Degree following additional investigation and a case referral from Seattle Police for the beating death that happened the morning of March 3. King County prosecutors argued that Mr. Jay’s bail in that case should be set at $5 million.
Aug. 16: There is a 2 p.m. hearing on the defense motion to have Mr. Jay released from custody. Even if a judge grant’s the defense motion to dismiss the felony assault cases, Mr. Jay will remain in custody on the first-degree murder case filed by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office with a $5 million bail argument.
Aug. 29: Mr. Jay’s is scheduled for an arraignment in the murder case. An arraignment is where an initial plea is entered.
Previous Cases
Mr. Jay has a significant criminal history — including multiple felony convictions out of California — and only a fraction of his previous cases have been referred to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Additional cases went to other offices or jurisdictions.
There have been eight cases involving Mr. Jay — including the three currently charged cases — referred to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in the last five years. Three are ongoing; we obtained convictions in four others; and the last case was later sent for filing in municipal court. The most recent conviction was a Residential Burglary case from Bellevue (a felony). In that case, he was sentenced in line with sentencing guidelines set by state lawmakers.
