On the evening of June 20, 2024, in a home in Lacey, Washington, the life of Julia Maupin, a 24-year-old Caucasian female, was brought to a tragic end. Julia, who was seven to eight months pregnant, was shot and killed alongside a 26-year-old man, Brandon Rudlaff. The Thurston County Coroner later confirmed that Julia died from a gunshot wound to her head, and her unborn baby died as a result of maternal death; both were ruled homicides.
Rudlaff’s death was caused by multiple gunshot wounds and was also ruled a homicide.
The residence where the killings occurred housed a complex living arrangement. Julia lived there with her husband, 21-year-old John Robert Maupin, as well as her mother and her mother's partner. Brandon Rudlaff, an active-duty soldier at Joint Base Lewis-McChord described as Julia's boyfriend, also lived in the home and shared a room with her. John Maupin, also a soldier at JBLM, had his own room. On the day of the incident, Julia’s mother overheard an argument between Julia and John. Later that evening, she heard gunshots. After the sounds of gunfire, she discovered her daughter and Rudlaff, both with fatal head wounds. Her partner also witnessed John Maupin walking down the stairs with a gun before fleeing the house.
After the shooting, John Maupin allegedly threatened his mother-in-law's partner with a gun before speeding away from the residence in his car. This prompted a 911 call from Julia's mother. An Olympia Police officer later spotted Maupin's vehicle, leading to a high-speed pursuit that reached speeds of over 110 mph. The chase ended when Maupin drove into the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, abandoned his car, and fled on foot. Law enforcement apprehended him there in the early hours of June 21.
John Robert Maupin was arrested and booked into the Thurston County Jail. He faces multiple charges, including two counts of second-degree murder, second-degree domestic violence assault, and eluding police. During an interview with detectives following his arrest, Maupin claimed to have an alter ego named "New John" and stated that he could not remember what had happened at the house. He was ordered to be held without bail.
