2007 New Year's Eve Stabbing

Defendant Pleads Guilty in Murder of Shannon Harps

Earlier this month, defendant James Williams, age 50, pleaded guilty as charged to Murder In The First Degree for the 2007 New Year's Eve Stabbing of Sierra Club employee Shannon Harps.  Williams was sentenced to 35 years in prison for this crime.

Shannon's death was the catalyst for a multi-disciplinary work group comprised of mental heath and criminal justice stakeholders who worked together to examine and identify necessary improvements to the intersection between the two systems.

The 2009 Washington State Legislature passed several bills based upon the work of this group.   There is still much to do, and Shannon Harps will forever remain the symbol and inspiration for ongoing efforts to improve how the criminal justice and mental health systems interact to best protect public safety and provide mental health treatment for those who desperately need it.  To read more about this case or to learn about the Foundation created to honor Shannon, click this link and this link.

Return to the News