Crystal Dawn Jones Hamilton, a 30-year-old White/Caucasian female, had her life tragically cut short on May 19, 2007, in Moscow, Idaho. Born in Boise and a graduate of Kuna High School, she had built a life for herself in Moscow over the course of a decade. For seven of those years, she was a familiar face at the Latah County Courthouse, where she was a dedicated employee.
Her friends and family remember her as a creative soul who found joy in drawing, painting, and various crafts, as well as gardening and a love for animals.
The events of that spring day unfolded into a devastating rampage that shook the small town of Moscow. Crystal was the first victim in a violent spree carried out by her husband, Jason Hamilton. After fatally shooting his wife, Hamilton continued his assault, claiming the lives of two other community members before ultimately taking his own life. The other victims were Paul George Bauer, a 62-year-old church caretaker, and Lee Stewart Newbill, a 48-year-old police officer who became the first officer in Moscow's history to be killed in the line of duty.
In the wake of the horrific events, the community was left to mourn the loss of three innocent lives. As Jason Hamilton died by his own hand at the conclusion of his deadly attack, he was never arrested or prosecuted for the murders. The investigation confirmed that he was the sole person responsible for the deaths of his wife, Crystal, along with the two other victims, before his suicide.
