As final mental competency period ends, First Hill homeless ax murder case heads to dismissal and civil commitment

A memorial to Paul Ewell at the site where he was found murdered in 2024 (Image: United Way of King County)

Liam Kryger, the 27-year-old accused in two deadly attacks on sleeping homeless men killed in late night assaults on area streets in 2024, remains incompetent to stand trial, according to a newly filed state psychiatric evaluation.

The determination likely marks the end of his active criminal prosecution.

Kryger was arrested in early 2024 and initially charged with first-degree murder in the brutal ax slaying of 52-year-old Daravuth Van, who was killed while camping outside Town Hall Seattle. Prosecutors later added a second count of first-degree murder for the February 2024 killing of 68-year-old Paul Ewell, who was attacked while sleeping outside the Seattle Men’s Chorus building along 12th Ave.

Surveillance, phone location data, and a discarded ax purchased at a local Lowe’s linked Kryger to both homicides.

Following his arrest, Kryger was held on $5 million bail. By July 2025, the court ordered him to Western State Hospital for competency restoration, which included authorized “involuntary medications” to treat his severe psychiatric symptoms.

In a June 2026, evaluation, a psychologist determined that Kryger continues to lack the capacity to understand the legal proceedings or assist in his defense. The report details that Kryger, who suffers from autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and a past traumatic brain injury, remains highly fixated on severe somatic delusions.

Because Kryger has exhausted his final 180-day restoration period, the state must dismiss his criminal charges without prejudice.

While the next hearing on his competency is scheduled for July 30th after prosecutors and his defense have the opportunity to review the report, the next steps are likely already clear. Patients determined to have a high risk of future dangerousness are typically referred by the court for a civil commitment evaluation which is likely to transition them to a long-term psychiatric facility.

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