In the late autumn of 2021, the life of 39-year-old Uso Gene Hale was tragically cut short in a violent encounter that began at a gas station in Federal Way, Washington. On November 11, Hale met with a man named Robert Nelson III, who was 24 at the time, in the front seat of Nelson's car at a Mobil gas station. The meeting was reportedly arranged for Hale to sell Nelson pills. A dispute erupted, and Nelson shot Hale multiple times with a. 45-caliber pistol.
Witnesses at the gas station reported hearing the gunshots, and investigators later found a bullet lodged in one of the station's windows.
Following the shooting, Nelson drove away from the gas station with Hale's body in the car. He traveled for about five minutes to a residential area in unincorporated King County and left Hale's body in a watery ditch near the 4600 block of South 352nd Street. The discovery was made the next morning, on November 12, 2021, by local residents who were out for a walk. An autopsy by the King County Medical Examiner's Office revealed that Hale had been shot at least seven times, with wounds to his cheek, chin, neck, thigh, arm, and torso. His death was ruled a homicide.
The investigation quickly led to Robert Nelson III of Kent. According to charging documents, the motive for the killing was connected to a prior incident where Hale had allegedly robbed Nelson of $1,500. Nelson was charged with first-degree murder, and his bail was set at $2 million. His trial began in June 2024. The prosecution argued that Nelson had premeditated the murder, while Nelson's defense claimed self-defense.
After about a day of deliberation, on July 11, 2024, the jury found Robert Nelson III guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder with a deadly weapon. On August 22, 2024, the 27-year-old Nelson was sentenced to 15 years and four months in prison. This sentence included a mandatory enhancement for the use of a firearm during the commission of the crime. Following the sentencing, Nelson's attorney filed a notice of appeal.
