In a tragic turn of events on May 9, 2019, 72-year-old Caucasian female Edna Bell Burcham was killed in her Olympia, Washington, home. The incident, which occurred on Meixner Street Northeast, began as a domestic assault by her husband, Randall Burcham. As her son attempted to call 911 for help, the situation escalated dramatically. Randall Burcham used a single-action revolver to shoot his wife three times in the head and chest, inflicting fatal wounds.
Immediately after shooting his
wife, Randall turned the weapon on his stepson, shooting him twice in the back as he was on the phone with emergency services. The gunshots paralyzed the son, adding another layer of tragedy to the violent domestic dispute. Law enforcement from the Thurston County Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene to find a devastating crime scene. The investigation into the horrific events was led by the Sheriff's Office Investigative Service Division.
Randall Burcham, who was 76 years old at the time of sentencing, was arrested and faced a jury trial that lasted three weeks. In September 2021, the jury found him guilty of multiple charges, including second-degree murder domestic violence while armed with a firearm, attempted second-degree murder domestic violence while armed with a firearm, fourth-degree assault domestic violence, third-degree malicious mischief, and tampering with physical evidence. Subsequently, a Thurston County Superior Court judge sentenced him to 36 years in prison. During the sentencing hearing, Edna's family remembered her as a positive person who was a talented seamstress, a wonderful cook, and the family historian.
