Kevin Harper, a 43-year-old Washington man, received a 32-year prison sentence for a brutal 2019 attack on a Kirkland woman stemming from her complaint about his poor plumbing work. Previously eyed as the prime suspect in a 2011 Yakima triple homicide, he avoided murder charges due to prosecutorial issues and was released in 2017 on lesser offenses. The victim, stabbed multiple times and doused with cleaning solution, survived by crawling to the street for help.
Attack Details
On March 17, 2019, Harper returned to the woman’s home enraged, robbed her of jewelry and cash, stabbed her in the head and upper body, and poured chemicals on her, believing her dead. Initially reported as a hit-and-run, police uncovered the stabbing upon arrival; she endured surgeries and now battles PTSD, anxiety, depression, and disability. Harper was arrested within 24 hours via quick detective work linking him to prior home plumbing.
Prior History
In 2011, Harper faced three first-degree murder counts for bludgeoning deaths including a 98-year-old woman during a burglary, but charges dropped to weapons and stolen property pleas amid investigative flaws. Post-release, he relocated near Seattle, committed the attack while high on meth, and later apologized in court blaming drug fog. Kirkland Police Chief Mike St. Jean praised the victim’s resilience for securing justice.
