Who’s on Washington’s death row

Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday announced the suspension of the death penalty in Washington state. Currently, there are nine death row inmates in the state. Here’s a brief look at the cases:

Robert Lee Yates: Authorities say Yates is a serial killer responsible for the deaths of more than a dozen women, many in Spokane. Yates was convicted in 2002 for the murders of 24-year-old Melinda Mercer and 35-year-old Connie LaFontaine Ellis. Both killings were committed in Pierce County. He’s been on death row since 2002.

Conner Michael Schierman: He was convicted in the stabbing deaths of 28-year-old Olga Milkin, her sons, 5-year-old Justin and 3-year-old Andrew, and her sister, 24-year-old Lyubov Botvina, and of burning their Kirkland home. Milkin’s husband, Leonid, was in Iraq at the time of the slayings. “What he did to my family, the same thing should happen to him. I’m very comfortable with (the death penalty),” he told the Bellevue Reporter in 2010. Schierman has been on death row since 2010.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Allen Eugene Gregory: Gregory was originally convicted and sentenced in 2001 for the 1996 rape and murder of 43-year-old Geneine “Genie” Harshfield in Pierce County. His case was overturned by the state Supreme Court in 2006. The original charge was upheld in retrial and the death sentence was reissued in 2012.

Byron Scherf: Scherf was convicted of killing correctional officer Jayme Biendl by strangling her with an amplifier cord inside a chapel at the Washington State Reformatory in Monroe in January 2011. Scherf, a convicted rapist, was in prison serving a life sentence. “I’ve been waiting 137 days exactly to hear those words that he’s got the death penalty,” Biendl’s sister, Lisa Hamm, told reporters in 2013 after his death sentence. “I’m going to continue to count until he’s finally dead.”

Jonathan Lee Gentry: He was found guilty of fatally bludgeoning 12-year-old Cassie Holden in Kitsap County in 1988. He’s been on death row since 1991.

Clark Richard Elmore: Elmore was convicted in the murder and rape of 14-year-old Christy Onstad, the daughter of his then live-in girlfriend, in Whatcom County. He’s been on death row since 1996.

Dwayne A. Woods: Woods was convicted for the 1996 double murder of 22-year-old Telisha Shaver and 18-year-old Jade Moore in Spokane County. He’s been on death row since 1997.

Cecil Emile Davis: Davis was convicted for the murder of 65-year-old Yoshiko Couch by suffocating her with a poisonous substance. He’s been on death row since 1997.

Dayva Michael Cross: Cross was convicted for the 1999 stabbing deaths of his 37-year-old wife, Anouchka Baldwin, and stepdaughters 15-year-old Amanda Baldwin and 18-year-old Salome Holle in King County. He’s been on death row since 2001.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Aaron Weinstock uses an x-ray machine toy inside the Imagine Children Museum on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Imagine Children’s Museum $250k grant reinstated following federal court order

The federal grant supports a program that brings free science lessons to children throughout rural Snohomish County.

Snohomish County 911 Executive Director Kurt Mills talks about the improvements made in the new call center space during a tour of the building on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New 911 center in Everett built to survive disaster

The $67.5 million facility brings all emergency staff under one roof with seismic upgrades, wellness features and space to expand.

Everett
Five arrested in connection with Everett toddler’s 2024 overdose death

More than a year after 13-month-old died, Everett police make arrests in overdose case.

Madison Family Shelter Family Support Specialist Dan Blizard talks about one of the pallet homes on Monday, May 19, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Madison Family Shelter reopens after hiatus

The Pallet shelter village, formerly Faith Family Village, provides housing for up to eight families for 90 days.

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Everett Historic Theater owner Curtis Shriner inside the theater on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Historic Everett Theatre sale on horizon, future uncertain

With expected new ownership, events for July and August will be canceled. The schedule for the fall and beyond is unclear.

Traffic moves north and south along the southbound side of the Highway 529 after the northbound lanes were closed due to a tunnel on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Southbound 529 to close near Marysville for four days for bridge work

WSDOT said the 24-hour-a-day closure is necessary to allow contractors to perform work on the aging Steamboat Slough Bridge.

The Edmonds City Council gathers to discuss annexing into South County Fire on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Community group presents vision for Edmonds’ fiscal future

Members from Keep Edmonds Vibrant suggested the council focus on revenue generation and a levy lid lift to address its budget crisis.

People listen as the Marysville School Board votes to close an elementary and a middle school in the 2025-26 school year while reconfiguring the district’s elementary schools to a K-6 model on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Marysville schools audit shows some improvement

Even though the district still faces serious financial problems, the findings are a positive change over last year, auditors said.

The Washington state Capitol on April 18. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)
‘I’m pretty upset’: WA lawmaker wants to override governor’s veto of his bill

State lawmakers delivered 423 bills to Gov. Bob Ferguson this year and… Continue reading

Ellis Johnson, 16, left, and brother Garrett Johnson, 13, take a breather after trying to find enough water to skim board on without sinking into the sand during opening day of Jetty Island on Friday, July 5, 2019 in Everett, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Epic ways to spice up your summer

Your ultimate guide to adventure, fun and reader-approved favorites!

Sarah and Cole Rinehardt, owners of In The Shadow Brewing, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In The Shadow Brewing: From backyard brews to downtown cheers

Everything seems to have fallen into place at the new taproom location in downtown Arlington

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.