Murder: True Crime Stories

Episode: UNSOLVED: The Federal Prosecutor Murder 2

Air Date: January 15, 2026
Host: Carter Roy

Episode Overview

This episode continues the in-depth examination of the unsolved 2001 murder of Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Wales in Seattle, Washington. Host Carter Roy breaks down the twists and setbacks in the decades-long investigation, exploring suspects, theories, and the impact of the case on those left behind. Focused on the search for justice and the persistence of investigators, the episode delves into the crime’s fallout and the ongoing hope that the truth will ultimately be uncovered.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Immediate Aftermath and Initial Investigative Challenges

• Timeline of the Crime
  • Tom Wales was shot through his basement window at his home on October 11, 2001, at 10:40pm.
  • The timing, just one month after 9/11, meant the case did not receive its due national attention or federal investigative resources.
  • "[Tom's] death came exactly one month after 9/11. And in the shadow of the war on terror, his case didn't get the attention it deserved." (Carter Roy, 00:46)
• First Steps
  • Investigators quickly ruled out personal motives: his ex-wife, current/former girlfriends, and personal acquaintances were all cleared.
  • Focus shifted to Wales's professional dealings as a federal prosecutor and outspoken gun reform advocate.
  • The FBI's Seattle office was left largely on its own, with limited resources and a modest $25,000 reward.
    • "To many in Seattle, that amount seemed incredibly low. Tom Wales had been a high level government employee. The Bureau should have been pulling out all the stops..." (Carter Roy, 05:23)

Suspects, Evidence, and Dead Ends

• Focus on James Anderson
  • Anderson, a pilot formerly prosecuted by Wales for fraud, became a leading suspect due to motive: losing a lawsuit and facing $125,000 in legal fees.
  • His alibi on the night of the murder was questionable but not impossible; he had seen a movie and made a call home in a tight window that fit, but did not definitively match, the murder timeline.
    • "According to one agent, it wasn't impossible, but it was unlikely." (Carter Roy, 09:06)
  • Multiple searches of Anderson's property yielded no murder weapon. Ballistics on bullets found at locations linked to Anderson did not match the murder weapon.
• Notable Investigative Failures
  • The FBI's lack of resources post-9/11 impaired the early investigation.
  • The family and local community perceived government apathy, fueling frustration and suspicion.

Alternative Suspects and Misdirection

• Informant Scott Lee Kimball ([13:45])

  • Kimball, later revealed as a serial killer, claimed an inmate named Jeremiah Jones confessed to the murder.
  • Undercover attempts to secure a confession failed, and a polygraph cast significant doubt on Kimball's story.
  • The FBI ultimately considered Kimball an unreliable source: "Kimball was an unreliable source. He had no idea who'd killed Tom Wales..." (Carter Roy, 18:24)

• The Mysterious "Gidget" Letter ([20:16])

  • In 2006, the FBI received a typed confession from "Gidget," a self-identified Las Vegas-based hitman.
  • The letter contained details both plausible and suspicious (e.g., being paid only after the murder, lack of due diligence on the part of a supposed hitman).
  • No DNA or physical evidence led from the letter, but its origin in Las Vegas coincided with Anderson's layover there—raising further suspicion on Anderson.
    • "Suddenly, everything clicked into place. It seemed like Anderson had gone out of his way to get to Nevada and mail the letter..." (Carter Roy, 27:22)

Renewed Theories & Grand Jury

• Anderson's Continual Troubles
  • Anderson's personal life continued to disintegrate under the pressure of suspicion—his second wife sought a restraining order, citing threats and harassment.
  • Anderson was brought before a grand jury in 2006, but insufficient evidence led to no charges.
  • The FBI and Wales's family continued to appeal publicly for new leads, and the reward was increased to $1 million.
    • "Like the FBI, they believed that someone out there knew something. And they hoped that ... that person or persons might have the courage to come forward." (Carter Roy, 30:41)

Evolving Theories and the Sinaloa Cartel Connection

• 2019: A New Angle
  • FBI shifted focus, theorizing Anderson may have contracted the murder through drug cartel connections, specifically the Sinaloa cartel, via a Washington-based drug ring.
  • Narrative: Anderson (owing to anger over his failed legal battles) asked the cartel to arrange a hit, which was carried out by a man from Snohomish, with a lookout.
  • Key witness Shawna Reed—a former girlfriend of the supposed lookout—was charged with obstruction but only pled to a misdemeanor, and remained uncooperative.
    • "That's why they decided to charge her with lying to a grand jury and obstructing justice in 2019. They hoped that if they prosecuted her for lying, she might finally tell the truth." (Carter Roy, 33:42)
  • Despite detailed memos to the DOJ and an increased reward ($2.5 million), no indictments resulted.

Institutional Response and Case Status

• Task Force Formalization (Late 2021)

  • CEPROM task force brought together FBI, Seattle PD, DOJ, and local prosecutors.
  • Despite resource increases and formal cooperation, the case remains unsolved.

• Ongoing Impact

  • More than twenty years later, Anderson maintains innocence, no one has been charged, and those who loved Wales are left with continued grief and frustration.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “People’s lives are like a story. There’s a beginning, a middle, and an end. But you don’t always know which part you’re on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon and we don’t always get to know the real ending.” (Carter Roy, 01:35)
• “The Bureau didn’t send any reinforcements in from their D.C. headquarters after the terrorist attacks a month earlier. They said they were all tied up with post 9/11 assignments... The message was clear. The feds were busy with other concerns. And this was, for now, a Seattle problem.” (Carter Roy, 06:50)
• “According to one agent, it wasn’t impossible, but it was unlikely.” (Carter Roy, 09:06)
• “...as far as the Seattle FBI was concerned, Kimball was an unreliable source. He had no idea who’d killed Tom Wales, but. And they didn’t need or want his help.” (Carter Roy, 18:24)
• “If Gidget was telling the truth about being a hitman, that wasn’t necessarily a surprise. He would have known to wipe his prints off any evidence.” (Carter Roy, 22:58)
• “The fact that his own case remains in limbo was the worst kind of irony, but it’s also moved the needle forward for investigators. His case has become a measure of institutional resolve, a question of whether the system can bring clarity to a crime that targeted one of its own.” (Carter Roy, 36:45)
• “If Tom taught us anything, it’s that the truth will prevail, one way or another.” (Carter Roy, 37:43)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [05:23] – Recap of Tom Wales's murder and beginning of the investigation
• [09:06] – Scrutiny of initial suspect James Anderson
• [13:45] – Interview and failed cooperation with informant/serial killer Scott Lee Kimball
• [20:16] – Receipt and analysis of the Gidget hitman letter
• [27:22] – Connection between Anderson and Las Vegas mail drop
• [30:41] – Family appeals and increased reward
• [33:42] – New cartel theory and witness Shawna Reed
• [36:45] – Reflections on the institutional challenges and ongoing hope for closure

Summary & Takeaways

Carter Roy’s narration weaves together the confusion, heartbreak, and dogged determination that have defined the Wales investigation. The episode underscores both the fallibility and resilience of law enforcement institutions in the face of tragedy—particularly when the victim is one of their own. While the main suspect, James Anderson, continues to live under a cloud of suspicion, and law enforcement remains convinced of a wider conspiracy, the lack of concrete evidence has left the case perpetually unresolved. The episode closes with hope that, through public concern and persistent investigative effort, justice for Tom Wales may ultimately be served.

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