Man Convicted of Arson and Murder Following a Jury Trial in Seattle, Washington

Seattle - Yesterday, a 31-year-old man was convicted in King County Superior Court for multiple counts of murder and assault, and one count of arson, announced Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais of the ATF Seattle Field Division. Jesse Puff was convicted of two counts of Murder-1, one count of Arson-1, and three counts of Assault-2 for the July 13, 2020, arson of the Hillside Motel in Seattle's East Queen Anne neighborhood.

According to records filed in the case, the Seattle Fire Department and Seattle Police Department responded to a large early-morning fire at the Hillside Motel in the 2400 block of Aurora Avenue North. First responders arrived at a chaotic scene, where people were jumping from windows to escape. Approximately fourteen residents were present at the time the fire began.

Just before the fire began, surveillance video shows Puff entering the motel stairwell with multiple jugs, followed by a large flash of light. Puff can then be seen running out of the building with his lower body on fire. Shortly thereafter, the video shows people jumping out of upper story windows. Special agents said Puff used ignitable liquid to start the fire inside the motel.

A few days after the arson, two victims, a 32-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, died at Harborview Medical Center. The King County Medical Examiner ruled both deaths homicides.

"This was a calculated and deliberate act that resulted in the tragic loss of life," said Jonthan Blais, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Seattle Field Division. "This conviction sends a clear message: those who use fire as a weapon will be held fully accountable for the devastation they cause. ATF is proud to have worked alongside the Seattle Police Department and the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office to secure justice for the victims and their families."

Sentencing is set for March 20^th, 2026. Puff is facing a significant prison sentence.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Seattle Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Contact

Press contact for the ATF Seattle Field Division is Public Information Officer Anna Schmidt at 206-204-7661 or [email protected].