Finch’s prognosis is ‘quite grim’

By SCOTT NORTH

Herald Writer

A convicted double murderer continued to hover near death Tuesday, prompting a Snohomish County judge to put off any action in his sentencing trial until his medical condition becomes more clear.

Charles Ben Finch, 51, apparently attempted suicide Oct. 25 by leaping head first from a second-floor balcony at the county jail in Everett. He was being held there during his second sentencing trial for the August 1994 murders near Cathcart of a sheriff’s sergeant and blind man.

Finch was paralyzed by the fall and has developed an infection in his lungs that is limiting the amount of oxygen in his blood, despite being hooked up to a machine that is breathing for him.

Despite around-the-clock care at an Everett hospital, Finch’s prognosis is "quite grim," and in all likelihood, "we’re probably looking at a matter of days in terms of his survival," Dr. Jeffery Winningham told Judge Ronald Castleberry Tuesday morning.

Finch has shown some improvement since his condition began worsening Sunday evening, but not enough to give his physicians much hope that he will survive or avoid brain damage from lack of oxygen. Winningham said doctors will continue to treat Finch over the next couple of days, but he added, "If there is not significant improvement, I think it would be appropriate to discuss this further with his family."

Castleberry sent jurors home until Friday, telling them it would be inappropriate for the trial to move forward until more is known about Finch’s medical condition.

"It would not be fair to you. It would not be fair to the attorneys. It would not be fair to Mr. Finch," the judge said.

Tuesday marked the third time Finch’s trial has been postponed since his fall.

Jurors had listened to nearly three weeks of testimony about how Finch murdered sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Kinard, 34, and a blind man, Ronald Modlin, on Aug. 15, 1994.

Finch was convicted of the murders and sentenced to die in 1995. But the state Supreme Court tossed out the sentence in 1999 because jurors had seen him in handcuffs and a nylon hobble. The underlying convictions were not affected.

The sole question in Finch’s new trial was whether he should receive a death sentence or life in prison without possibility of release.

Jurors originally had been scheduled to begin deliberating on Thursday. But they were sent home for the weekend after Finch’s Wednesday evening suicide attempt, and sent home again on Monday after his condition worsened.

Finch had been let out of his jail cell and was walking alone to the shower when he climbed atop of a second-floor railing and hurled himself over a drop of about 15 feet. He crashed into a wall and landed on his head and neck, according to court papers.

When police searched his cell, they found a calendar date book with the word "Dead" entered for Oct. 25.

Hours before his leap, Finch had made a personal pitch for mercy in his case. He also said he was sorry for the "terrible thing" he’d done to Kinard and Modlin.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.