Charges Dismissed for Man Accused in Seattle Axe Killings

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Charges Dismissed for Man Accused in Seattle Axe Killings

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On Thursday, August 13, 2026, a King County Superior Court judge dismissed two first-degree murder charges against Liam Harrison Kryger, who was accused of killing two unhoused men with an axe in separate attacks in February 2024. Judge Nelson Lee found Kryger, 27, mentally incompetent to stand trial after medical evaluations, and ordered him to be evaluated for civil commitment.

Kryger was accused of killing 68-year-old Paul Ernest Ewell and 52-year-old Daravuth Van in February 2024. Ewell was found deceased on February 10, 2024, in a parking lot alcove, and Van was killed on February 22, 2024, while sleeping outside Seattle City Hall. Kryger was arrested in March 2024 after being identified through surveillance footage. He was initially charged with one count of first-degree murder, with a second count added in May 2024.

Prosecutors stated that the dismissal does not mean Kryger is acquitted, but rather that the criminal prosecution cannot proceed due to his current mental state. Washington state law mandates dismissal of charges without prejudice when a felony defendant is found unlikely to regain competency even after maximum restoration efforts. Kryger underwent three rounds of competency restoration at Western State Hospital, but evaluators determined he remained incompetent. A forensic evaluator diagnosed Kryger with schizophrenia, autism, and traumatic brain injury, concluding he has an “elevated” risk of reoffending.

Following the dismissal, Kryger will undergo a civil commitment evaluation. This process is separate from the criminal case and could result in his long-term commitment to a facility like Western State Hospital. Prosecutors retain the option to refile the murder charges if Kryger’s mental competency is ever restored.

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