By Tim Clifford

When considering the case of Timothy Pauley two questions immediately come to mind: How much can one person truly change in 35 years? And, is 35 years enough time to serve for the murder of three people and the torture of two others?

For Congressman Dave Reichert and King County Prosecutor Dan Satterburg the answers to either of those questions will never be satisfactory enough when it comes to the crimes that Pauley is currently serving time for.

In 1980 Pauley, now 56, plead guilty to three counts of murder in the first degree in the Barn Door Tavern triple murder case and was sentenced to serve three life terms. At that time Washington State did not have the death penalty.

Last May the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board (ISRB) determined that due to Pauley’s good behavior behind bars the minimum terms of his last two convictions have been reduced from just over 33 years to now just over 28 years. That puts Pauley in line for potential release in February of 2018.

A hearing that was scheduled for Sept.15 to determine whether to move Pauley from the Monroe Correctional Complex to a less secure prison has been pushed to December by the ISRB. Moving an inmate to a less secure facility is typically a sign that they will soon be released.

Both Satterburg and Reichert have written letters to Gov. Jay Inslee expressing their outrage at this determination and their incredulousness with the ISRB.
Congressman Reichert, who was a young detective at the time and processed the crime scene of this incident in 1980, sent this response to the Highline Times when asked about the ISRB’s decision:

“In June of 1980, I was one of several detectives who assisted with the Barn Door Tavern triple murder case. The team of investigators processed the crime scene, interviewed witnesses, and  apprehended the two  men responsible for this crime. I spent 33 years in law enforcement and I saw a lot of things – this was one of the most violent and gruesome cases I worked on. To permit one of the perpetrators of this horrendous crime, Timothy Pauley, who is serving three consecutive life sentences to go free would be intolerable.   We cannot reward murderers.   Mr. Pauley’s early release would cause further pain to the families of the victims and put the safety of the citizens of Washington State in jeopardy.”

Each member of the ISRB is appointed by the governor and each serves a five year term. The chair of the board for the ISRB is Lynn Delano who was appointed as such by the governor in 2010.
The Highline Times reached out to Gov. Inslee for a comment on this case and about the ISRB. The governor’s Executive Director of Communications David Postman responded:

“First and foremost, the ISRB is an independent board that makes parole decisions regarding a limited number of cases. They do not report to the Governor and he has no role in approving their decisions. Further, the Governor has no authority to intervene or overturn the decision made by the board regarding redetermining Pauley's minimum term.  They have independent statutory authority to do so. If the Board subsequently determines that he is fit for release and finalize a release plan, the Governor will review that at the appropriate time. We don't anticipate that happening until 2017.”

In Satterburg’s letter to the governor he outlines the case and Pauley’s role in it. He goes on to outline the standards with which this case would be tried if it were to occur today. Satterburg finishes by stating “Based upon the horrible facts of this triple homicide and the harm done to the victims, their families, and the community, it is incumbent upon us as agents of public safety to protect the community from further harm…the crimes in this case call for the forfeiture of liberty for life. Certainly no reduction of the minimum term previously imposed is appropriate.”

On June 12, 1980, around 2:50 a.m., Timothy Robert Pauley and Scott Carl Smith, then 21 and 29, knocked on the door of the Barn Door Tavern claiming to have left a coat inside. The establishment, which used to sit along Highway 99, was closed at that time and inside were 5 employees cleaning up and preparing to go home. Loran Dowell, Margaret Dowell, Robert Pierre, Linda Burford, and Sherrie Beckham had spoken to the men earlier that night and had no reason to be suspicious when they allowed them in.

Pauley and Smith, armed with a handgun, hunting knife and extension cords, immediately took the 5 people hostage. Both of the men had come and gone from the bar all day in an effort to “case” the scene before finally making their move.

The plan for the two thieves had been to rob the tavern’s cash register and steal money from the multiple gaming machines inside.

Instead of being quick and easy the plan took an insidiously darker and more tragic route.

After taking all of the money Pauley and Smith tied Loran and Robert together inside the bar’s walk-in freezer unit at which point Pauley proceeded to execute both men with gunshots to their heads. They then forced all three of the women to strip naked and tied Margaret and Sherrie together inside the women’s bathroom. Cords were tied to railings and around the women’s necks in an effort to choke them to death.

Linda was taken out to the main stage area where she was raped and then hung from railings until she died. Pauley and Smith left believing they had killed all five of their victims. What they didn’t know was that Margaret and Sherrie had played dead in order to fool their would-be murderers and were able to slip out of their bonds hours later.

Margaret and Loran were married and had three children together. It was Margaret who was the first to find the two men inside the freezer unit.

Fast forward to last week when Margaret Dowell attended a hearing about Pauley’s potential early release down in Olympia and spoke out against it. For the past 35 years Margaret and her children have attended every hearing concerning Pauley and have remained resolute that he should never be allowed to exit prison alive.
Last week one of Margaret’s daughters, Angie, spoke on the Dori Monson show on KIRO radio about her mother’s experience and about her own observations when dealing with the ISRB. When asked how the ISRB has responded to her mother and Angie’s siblings during these hearings, as well as the families of the other victims, her answer was short and quick.

“Every time we have gone in front of this board we have felt so insignificant,” she stated.

To read Prosecutor Satterburg’s letter in whole and to see video of Timothy Pauley as he is today find this story on Highlinetimes.com.