Sequim man gets life for killing sex offenders

A Sequim man who killed two sex offenders on the Olympic Peninsula has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Patrick Drum, 34, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of aggravated murder in the shooting deaths of Gary L. Blanton Jr., 28, and Jerry W. Ray, 56. Both men were level two registered sex offenders.

“In one instance he invited one to live with him and then shot him repeatedly without warning,” said Clallam County Prosecutor Deborah Kelly. “In the other instance, he drove to the individual’s home, broke into it in the middle of the night, and shot him dead.”

Drum also pleaded guilty to burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm. Prior to the crime spree, he had a lengthy criminal history, including drug convictions, theft, and assault.

Kelly declined to seek the death penalty due to Drum’s history of mental illness.

“It was an absolute tragedy for the families of the individuals who were murdered, and as the judge and sheriff and I have repeatedly made clear, vigilantism will not be tolerated,” Kelly said.

It is unclear what prompted him to target sex offenders, but police say Drum had already identified others who he planned to kill.