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The Times' criminal justice team looks behind the scenes and behind the headlines.
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Seattle man skips bail, costs family $100,000
Posted by John de Leon
Washington state and Okanogan County will share the $100,000 bail that was forfeited when the man suspected of killing well-known Black Diamond sound engineer Tom Pfaeffle failed to show up for a court hearing last month, according to The Wenatchee World.
Kino M. Gomez, 51, of Seattle, who was facing a first-degree murder charge for the July shooting of Pfaeffle, didn't show up for a court hearing in Okanogan County Superior Court. After he was arrested, his family had posted the full $100,000 bail in cash, according to The World.
He left his family a letter saying he would rather die than lose his freedom.
"The media, the bloggers, the police, the justice system, none of whom witnessed the alleged crime, already hung me," Gomez wrote. "Well, just for spite, I shall deprive society of the circus it so bloody craves - the bearded lady quit!"
In the letter, Gomez apologized to his family for any embarrassment and financial burden. Officials say they've had no reports of Gomez's whereabouts since he left the letter.
Records show that $66,800 of the bail money went to Okanogan County's general fund, $32,000 went to the state's general fund, and $1,200 went to a state crime victim's fund, The World reports.
Pfaeffle, a veteran of more than 30 years in the recording and audio mixing business, worked as a concert sound engineer with B.B. King, Alice Cooper, Nirvana, Queensryche, Aerosmith and other bands and performers. Police say Gomez shot Pfaeffle through a motel-room door in Twisp on July 17 because Gomez mistakenly thought someone was trying to break in. Police say Pfaeffle put his key in wrong room door.
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