Man accused of setting Wallingford fire that killed woman appears in court
Jul 11, 2025, 1:15 PM | Updated: 5:53 pm
Firefighters attempt to put out a Wallingford house fire that occurred in June. (Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)
The man Seattle police believe is responsible for the arson-related death of a 72-year-old Wallingford woman was in court Friday afternoon.
Letian Shi, 25, was caught on several Ring cameras near the home of Susan Klee. Prosecutors said Shi was also seen on surveillance video at a Dick’s Drive-In.
Shi’s attorney argued the images are unclear, making it impossible to make a positive identification. But prosecutors asked for a high bail.
“The state requests $4 million. Mr. Shi is a national of another country and is here on a student visa,” a King County prosecutor said.
Judge Jill Klinge agreed and set bail at $4 million. She also ordered Shi to surrender all passports.
Shi is due back in court Monday afternoon.
Man arrested in connection with deadly Wallingford fire
A man was arrested in connection with an arson-related homicide in Wallingford.
The 25-year-old man was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into a fire that happened in June, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) reported.
A 72-year-old woman died from injuries she sustained in the house fire.
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Firefighers respond to Wallingford fire on June 4
On June 4, at approximately 1:10 a.m., nearly 100 Seattle firefighters were called to a home on Sunnyside Avenue North, a few blocks away from Lake Union. When Seattle Fire crews arrived, they found a house and a tree on fire. An elderly woman was found inside the home on the ground, within a few feet of the doorway.
The fire took around 90 minutes to extinguish. Crews evacuated the building due to concerns that the roof might collapse. Thankfully, the fire did not spread to neighboring homes.
The woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries.
While SPD’s arson-bomb squad investigated the fire, it learned that someone had left the scene before first responders arrived. Investigators determined that the cause of the fire was not accidental.
If anyone has information on this fire, call the SPD Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.
This story was originally published on June 9, 2025. It has been updated and republished since then.
Contributing: Julia Dallas, MyNorthwest
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