Man who drove off Edmonds ferry dock, killing 2 passengers, sentenced to 7 years in prison

A man who drove off the Edmonds Ferry Dock with a car full of passengers was sentenced to just shy of seven and a half years in prison.

William Russell-Leonard was behind the wheel of a stolen Mini Cooper when he led Washington State Patrol troopers on a chase on I-5 before plunging off the dock in June 2025.

Russell-Leonard, along with two others, survived, but two more passengers, Porsha Sapp and Melanie Ross, died while inside the car.

“My mom and her friend got in that car together not knowing they were going to die because of you,” said Deavieona Alberta, daughter of Porsha Sapp.

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Alberta, Sapp’s cousin and a victim’s advocate, was present when Russell-Leonard was sentenced on Tuesday afternoon.

“Dozens, probably hundreds of people that loved them and now they’re gone because of you because you were scared to go to jail,” Alberta said.

Snohomish Superior Court Judge Cindy Larsen revealed Russell-Leonard was already on community custody for another conviction when the deadly crash happened.

“I don’t think I can in good conscience give less than the high end here,” Judge Larsen said. ” It’s still only 89 months, which is still not a lot for the lives of two people.”

Once Russell-Leonard is released, he’ll be on community custody for 18 months.

“I want him to suffer immense pain. I hope prison is the worst for him because of what he did; two innocent ladies are no longer going to be here, and their kids and their family are forever going to suffer because of his selfish actions,” said Natasha Sapp, cousin of Porsha Sapp.