Kevin Harper (KOMO/YouTube).
A man from Washington state, who once faced allegations as the prime suspect in a triple homicide but managed to evade the gravest of charges, is now sentenced to prison for nearly taking the life of a woman who criticized his inferior plumbing services.
Kevin Harper, 43, received a 32-year prison sentence following his conviction for attempted murder, kidnapping, burglary, and robbery, as reported by Kirkland police. The violent incident occurred on March 17, 2019, in Kirkland, a suburb of Seattle, when police responded to what was initially believed to be a hit-and-run incident involving a woman found lying on the road.
Upon reaching the scene, officers discovered that the woman had not been hit by a vehicle but had been brutally stabbed. She sustained multiple stab wounds to her head and upper body.
Investigations revealed that Harper had previously done plumbing work at the victim’s residence. After she lodged a complaint with his employer about his poor workmanship, Harper returned to her home, armed and intent on confrontation. During the attack, he robbed her, inflicted knife wounds, and doused her with cleaning solution before fleeing, assuming she was deceased.
Miraculously, the victim regained consciousness and managed to crawl outside, where she collapsed on the street. Fortunately, a passing driver noticed her and alerted emergency services. Police swiftly identified Harper as the assailant, leading to his arrest the following day.
During Harper’s sentencing, the victim’s attorney delivered a statement detailing the ongoing trauma she endures. She continues to battle PTSD, anxiety, and depression, alongside undergoing numerous surgeries to address her injuries.
“I am haunted every day by the memory of the night, by the monster who tried to end my life, by the smell of the cleaning solution and by the terror of being unable to call for help,” she wrote, according to a courtroom report by local ABC affiliate KOMO.
Back in 2011, Harper was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of three people including a 98-year-old woman, but those charges were downgraded to weapons and stolen property after prosecutors and investigators dropped the ball, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported.
After his release from prison, he moved to the Seattle area, where he attacked the woman. During his sentencing, he apologized to the victim and blamed his actions on being high on meth.
“This case underscores the incredible resilience and determination of the victim, whose courage played a critical role in bringing her attacker to justice,” Kirkland Police Chief Mike St. Jean said in a statement.
