Top law enforcement officials have spent more than a decade trying to track down a slain federal prosecutor’s killer, and hope that by raising the reward someone with information will come forward.
During a news conference on Wednesday, the Justice Department and other federal officials announced that the reward to solve the murder of Thomas C. Wales has been increased to $1.52million.
The reward was previously $1million, but the National Association of Former United States Attorney’s Foundation said it would give an additional $525,000, ABC News reports.
Thomas C. Wales was killed on October 11, 2001. Sixteen years later and the case remains unsolved
Wales, 49, was a federal prosecutor in Seattle, Washington at the time of his death and the president of the gun-control group Washington CeaseFire
Law enforcement officials announced on Wednesday that the reward was raised to $1.52 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. The reward was previously $1million
‘Any attack on a law enforcement officer is an attack on our entire justice system,” Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein said. “The Wales family has shown incredible strength, courage, and devotion. As deputy attorney general, I intend to see that we leave no stone unturned in the search for the killer who murdered Tom Wales. We will continue to pursue this case for as long as it takes to achieve justice. The killer will be held accountable.”
Wales’ daughter, Amy, urged people with information on her father’s 2001 murder to come forward. Former Seattle US Attorney Mike McKay said the death was ‘a carefully planned execution’.
Wales, a 49-year-old divorced father-of-two, was shot through the basement window of his home on October 11, 2001. Investigators said he was sitting at his desk working when the bullet hit him in the throat, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Wales was able to dial 911, but could only mumble into the phone.
Investigators said the gunman had fired four rapid shots while standing in the backyard of Wales’ home. A neighbor peeked out his window and said he saw a man walking briskly to a car before speeding away.
Police also released a sketch of a man with a chipped tooth who neighbors said was seen shortly before Wales death pulling a small, nylon suitcase through the upscale neighborhood.
The FBI said the individual in this police sketch may have been a witness to the crime or may have other information about the murder
The motive for the murder also remains a mystery. Some investigators have said that it could have had something to do with Wales being a gun control advocate
Despite a few leads on the murder, police have never been an arrest and the case remains unsolved.
‘We hope the reward provides the additional incentive to do the right thing,’ Rosenstein said during Wednesday’s conference.
The motive for the murder also remains a mystery.
Some investigators have said that it could have had something to do with Wales being a gun control advocate, while others believe it may have been because of his line of work of putting criminals behind bars.
At the time of this death, Wales had been with the US Attorney’s Office in Seattle for 18 years and was the president of the gun-control group Washington CeaseFire.
Anyone with information on the murder is asked to contact the FBI and can do so confidentially by calling 206-622-0460 or by email at walestips@fbi.gov. They can also send an anonymous tip to the FBI at 1110 Third Ave, Seattle WA 98101.