Podcast Summary:
Murder: True Crime Stories – UNSOLVED: The Federal Prosecutor Murder 1
Host: Carter Roy (for Crime House)
Release Date: January 13, 2026
Main Theme:
This episode explores the life, career, and unsolved 2001 murder of Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Wales, the only federal prosecutor in U.S. history known to have been killed in the line of duty. The episode unpacks who Tom Wales was, key moments from his life and career, the criminal cases and activism that shaped his reputation—and possibly contributed to his murder. Part one focuses on Tom’s background, motivations, and the immediate aftermath of his shocking death.
Episode Overview
- Introduction to Tom Wales’s background and values
- His trajectory from privileged beginnings to passionate public servant
- Key cases and growing activism, especially around gun control
- Events leading to his murder
- The initial steps and challenges of the criminal investigation
- Emerging questions about motive and the early focus of the FBI
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Tom Wales: The Man Behind the Murder Case
[00:46–05:06]
- Tom chose the difficult path and cared deeply about rules and integrity:
“Some people choose the easy road, the one that doesn't involve conflict or confrontation. Others take the hard one because their conscience won't let them do anything else... Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Wales was part of the second group.”
(Host Carter Roy, 00:46) - Early influences:
- Attended Milton Academy; roommate to Joseph Kennedy after Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination.
- Captain of the football team, class president, and later a Harvard graduate.
- Marriage to Elizabeth, two children (Tom and Amy), and a fast-rising legal career.
2. From Big Law to Public Service
[05:06–07:40]
- Tom left corporate law (“the goal of making a fortune just didn't resonate with him”) for public service.
- In Seattle, he became an Assistant U.S. Attorney—rarely leaving for more lucrative or political roles, unusual among peers.
- Valued both strict justice and second chances; “a rare type of prosecutor.”
3. Gun Control Activism and Community Involvement
[07:40–11:00]
- Life in Seattle: family hikes, community service, and city planning.
- Gun violence personal trigger: After a school shooting near his son’s high school in 1995, Tom became deeply active in gun safety advocacy.
- Rose to president of Washington Ceasefire, led a failed but visible 1997 referendum campaign for stricter gun laws.
“He used every ounce of his... [energy]... The gun rights lobby saw it differently. They poured nearly $4 million...”
(Host, 10:00) - Public’s rejection (71% against), but Tom gained recognition; his peers urged him to consider politics.
4. The Helicopter Case: Professional Enemies
[16:43–22:00]
- Tom’s meticulous approach in the U.S. Attorney’s office; some found it “excessive,” but it made him effective.
- High-stakes prosecution of James Anderson and Kim Powell over illegal helicopter conversions.
- Fraudulent paperwork, safety violations, and forging documents.
- Case collapsed when a key FAA witness reversed testimony.
- Defendants fined; Anderson, “$125,000 in debt,” sued for legal fees, creating lasting resentment—even after losing the suit.
- Tom’s reputation as a “stickler” for detail; willingness to make enemies.
5. Advocacy, Controversy, and Increasing Risk
[22:00–28:00]
- Despite personal upheaval (amicable divorce when his wife came out), Tom’s advocacy increased.
- Public speaking, especially commencement speeches, provoked both support and anger:
“One [mother] slammed him for giving the worst speech she’d ever heard. The other told him it was the best thing he could have said. Tom welcomed both stances. He just wanted people to care.”
(Host, 24:30) - Post-9/11: Wales opposed arming airline pilots on local news, despite advice to be quiet during a sensitive time.
“Tom had never been someone to wait for the right political moment, not when there was something he cared about on the table.”
(Host, 26:00)
6. The Murder: Night of October 11, 2001
[28:00–31:30]
- Tom cancels dinner with his girlfriend to work late at home.
- Last acts: tending to an elderly cat, drywall project, writing a gun safety fundraising appeal.
- At 10:40pm, an unknown assailant fires through Tom’s basement office window.
- Shot with a Makarov pistol; bullets entered neck, throat, and torso.
- Left alive but unable to speak; died hours later in hospital.
- Immediate scene fills with family, friends, prosecutors, Seattle officials—all shocked by the unprecedented killing.
7. Investigative Challenges
[31:30–37:57]
- Urgent need to determine motive so proper authorities (FBI or Seattle PD) take charge.
- Given probable work-related motive, FBI assumes lead.
“If [Tom] had been murdered because of his role as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, the investigation would fall under the jurisdiction of the FBI.”
- Post-9/11 FBI overstretched and unfocused; early investigation hampered by lack of evidence.
- “It was as close to a perfect murder as you could get.”
- Physical evidence minimal: only bullets and casings, traced to a replacement barrel on a common Makarov pistol.
- Ballistic trail laborious—tracking every sale of 2,600 relevant barrels in the US.
- Investigators consider all personal, political, and professional angles. A suspect’s list swells, but James Anderson (the resentful ex-defendant) emerges as a top focus—despite lack of hard evidence.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Tom’s guiding ethos:
“He wasn't loud or flashy. He didn't chase headlines. But he did believe in fairness and public service... He pushed for what he thought was right, even when it made him enemies.”
– Carter Roy (Host), [00:47] -
On the helicopter prosecution unraveling:
“For Tom, it was humiliating. He later called it the most frustrating case of his career.”
– Carter Roy, [19:00] -
On his impact, allies and adversaries:
“He could be the next mayor, governor, maybe even senator. It seemed like the sky was the limit. But like they say, when you fly too close to the sun, you might get burned.”
– Carter Roy, [14:20] -
On Tom’s divisive commencement speech:
“One slammed him for giving the worst speech she’d ever heard. The other told him it was the best thing he could have said. Tom welcomed both stances. He just wanted people to care.”
– Carter Roy, [24:30] -
On the investigation’s daunting scope:
“According to one investigator, it was as close to a perfect murder as you could get. There was no DNA anywhere, no footprints, no witnesses.”
– Carter Roy, [33:50]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro & Overview – 00:46–04:07
- Tom’s Early Life & Legal Career – 05:06–07:40
- Gun Safety Activism – 07:40–11:00
- The Helicopter Case – 16:43–22:00
- Post-9/11 Advocacy & Risks – 24:00–27:50
- Night of the Murder – 28:00–31:30
- Immediate Aftermath & Community Response – 31:30–33:00
- Evidence and The FBI’s Hurdles – 33:00–36:00
- Suspects, Focus on Anderson – 36:00–37:57
Conclusion & What’s Next
- Cliffhanger: The episode ends with the investigation zeroing in on James Anderson as a person of interest, but with no conclusive evidence—“just a gut feeling.”
- The next installment will focus on the fallout, the hunt for the killer, and the lasting impact on Wales’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Host’s closing words:
"Come back next time for part two on the murder of Tom Wales and all the people it affected."
– Carter Roy, [37:51]
Tone & Style:
The episode is immersive, investigative, and deeply humanizing. Carter Roy balances factual rigor with an emphasis on Tom’s character, choices, and the emotional weight of his murder—focusing less on lurid details, more on the personal and societal stakes.