Former Sequim resident Ari Lee King, 42, will serve 18 years for the murder of a Joyce woman last year.
King was sentenced on Nov. 2 in Clallam County Superior Court by Judge Christopher Melly to 216 months in jail for the murder of 65-year-old Diane Cunningham in late September 2014.
He killed Cunningham in her mobile home at Salt Creek RV Park by bludgeoning her to death, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office reports.
King originally pleaded not guilty on Nov. 21, 2014, but later pleaded guilty on Oct. 12, 2015, to the second-degree intentional murder.
For his sentence, King faced 13-plus years to 22-plus years in prison for his criminal history that includes second-degree theft in 1999, second-degree burglary in 2005, possession of methamphetamine in 2006 and taking a motor vehicle without permission in 2013.
Cunningham was found by her daughter Tamra Wilson and her boyfriend Mike Henshaw on Oct. 6, 2014, at the mobile home after not hearing from Cunningham for nine days, law enforcement reports.
Previously, King and Cunningham were captured on video together on Sept. 28 at 7 Cedars Casino and the Port Angeles Walmart. King was later seen on video on the Bainbridge Island-Seattle Ferry.
Two weeks later, King was found living under a bridge in Juntura, Ore., after taking Cunningham’s winnings from the casino, a coin collection and 1999 Audi.
Law enforcement learned of King’s whereabouts from employees of n Oregon business where King paid for meals using packaged coins and a crisp $100 bill.
