Inset: Clay Fosse (New Mexico Department of Corrections). Background: The apartment complex in Seattle, Washington, where Fosse allegedly killed a man in 2015 (Google Maps).
In a shocking turn of events, a man has been charged with murder nearly a decade after allegedly killing someone in Washington state by mechanical asphyxiation and attempting to conceal the crime with oven cleaner.
Clay Fosse, now 37, faces a second-degree murder charge for the death of Thomas Hess in Seattle. According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Hess’s roommates discovered his lifeless body around 2 a.m. on February 14, 2015, at his apartment located in the 2300 block of 1st Avenue.
Authorities found Hess covered with blankets and a perforated leather sheet, described as a “mask,” over his face. His wrists were bound with a shoelace. The affidavit noted a distinct smell of oven cleaner on his body, and investigators found a can of Easy-Off oven cleaner near his feet.
The autopsy revealed blunt force injuries to Hess’s face, neck, and torso, including several fractures. The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be “probable mechanical asphyxia,” indicating obstruction of his breathing pathways.
The apartment complex required a key card for entry, and records showed that Hess last entered the building shortly after 3 p.m. on February 12, 2015. Surveillance footage captured Hess entering with an unidentified male, who was later seen exiting the premises approximately seven hours later.
In the aftermath of the crime, investigators submitted several pieces of evidence, including nail clippings, to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab. Over a year later, the lab identified a DNA match to Fosse, who was detained in the Bernalillo County Jail in New Mexico on unrelated charges at the time. In August 2016, detectives submitted Fosse’s DNA to the crime lab, which confirmed the match, leading to the recent charges.
In 2024, more items were submitted for DNA analysis including neck swabs. In May, it was confirmed that the swabs originated from Hess and Fosse, cops said.
Records show Fosse is currently serving a prison sentence in New Mexico Department of Corrections for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Cops say Fosse has an extensive criminal history, which includes convictions for kidnapping and false imprisonment. He also was arrested in Washington state in the weeks after the alleged murder for assault and criminal trespass.
The affidavit did not include a motive for the murder or how the suspect and victim came to know each other.
