Frank Pawul gets heightened murder charge after new evidence

Pierce County prosecutors are switching up their case for Frank William Pawul. He now faces the most serious charge in the state with the potential of a death or a life sentence without the possibility of release.

Pawul, 32, was originally charged with first degree murder. He is now charged with aggravated first degree murder. This is the only charge in Washington that carries a death penalty or life in prison without possibility of release.

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The new charge comes after forensic testing reveals that the bullet which killed Pierce County Deputy Daniel McCartney on Jan. 7 came from a gun Pawul is suspected of using during a home invasion and robbery. That gun was located about 175 feet away from the scene. It was found along the path the suspect used to escape the robbery that Deputy McCartney responded to. A shell casing from the gun was also found about 15 feet away from McCartney’s body.

When Deputy McCartney arrived at the house where the home invasion was reported, he engaged in a shootout with two suspects. One died at the scene. The other, Pawul, escaped but was later apprehended. They are among four people arrested in relation to the incident.

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