Man Accused In 2 Killings Could Face Death Penalty -- Shoreline Women Slain A Month Apart

A 24-year-old Seattle man accused of slaying two Shoreline women nearly two years ago could face the death penalty if convicted.

The suspect, Robert Lee Parker, aka Robert White, was charged yesterday by King County prosecutors with two counts of aggravated first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Renee Powell, 43, and Barbara Walsh, 54.

Powell was killed on Feb. 24, 1995, and Walsh was killed about a month later. Both women were stabbed, and their Shoreline condominiums were set on fire. Walsh had also been strangled.

Under Washington law, Parker, who has an extensive criminal history, could be sentenced to either the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole if he's convicted, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecutor's Office.

King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng will have 30 days from Parker's Wednesday arraignment to decide whether to seek the death penalty. Parker is being held without bail in the King County Jail.

According to charging papers, the Shoreline Fire Department responded to a fire at Powell's ground-floor apartment at 2208 NE 197th Place at 11:50 p.m. Feb. 24. Her body was found in the bedroom.

She was bound and gagged. Several items had been taken from her apartment.

An autopsy determined she died from a stab wound to the stomach. She had also been stabbed in the back.

On March 26 at 1 a.m., Shoreline Fire Department responded to a fire at 2202 NE 197th Place. They found the body of Walsh, her hands

bound with a cord. She had been strangled. Several items had been taken from her home.

A tip from Parker's former live-in girlfriend led King County Police to Parker, who was arrested Tuesday, according to charging papers.

At the time of the slayings, Powell lived about a block from the two victims, according to charging papers.

He shared an apartment with the woman who now is his ex-girlfriend, the documents say.