Michael Lee Dudley, who was convicted of the second degree murders of Jessica Lewis and Austin Wenner in December was sentenced today to more than 40 years in prison, specifically 560 months. Dudley who is 64 will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Judge Aimee Sutton issued the sentence in a hearing in King County Superior Court.
The horrific details of the case drew international attention including a documentary on the BBC.
According to court documents In June 2020, Dudley was in an argument over unpaid rent with Lewis, 35 and Wenner, 27. The two were romantically linked.
That argument ended with them being shot by Dudley.
Neighbors said they heard gunfire and heard a man's voice yelling, “Please don’t do this, just let me leave.”
The bodies of Lewis and Wenner were found days later in a bizarre intersection of murder and viral video. Teen girls using the Tik Tok app were directed to the area adjacent to Duwamish Head on Alki. There they found two suitcases that it was later determined, contained the dismembered remains of Lewis and Wenner.
After an investigation was launched a search of Dudley's home and the room the couple shared found bullet holes, spent cartridges and blood. According to court documents it was obvious the room had recently been cleaned.
Phone records were pivotal in the case.
Dudley’s cellphone records showed it had pinged off a tower near Alki Beach on June 18. It had not done so in the three months prior according to the investigation.
The investigation also revealed that Lewis’ cellphone, which was used by both she and Wenner, was turned off just after 7 p.m. on the night they were murdered.
Jessica Lewis's aunt Gina Jaschke who has been deeply involved in the case from the beginning said, "I'm just glad we are safer now that man is off the streets and not taking advantage of or hurting and preying on people when down on their luck anymore."
