More than three years after a violent home invasion and rape of an 80-year-old woman in Tacoma, 66-year-old Boyd Earl Hatch has been sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
The attack, which occurred in 2020 at a residence in the West End neighborhood, remained unsolved until recently. Hatch pleaded guilty in February to first-degree rape and first-degree burglary with a sexual motivation enhancement. Prosecutors say he entered the woman’s home through an unlocked sliding door while carrying a butter knife, then forcibly moved her to a bedroom.
The terrifying ordeal lasted nearly two hours. At one point, Hatch left the room, giving the woman a chance to hide the knife. He later drank vodka from a bottle in the home, stole $40 from her wallet, and smoked a cigarette before fleeing.
Detectives ultimately linked Hatch to the assault through forensic evidence, including DNA found on the knife and data from a sexual assault evidence kit, along with a store receipt. He was formally charged in March 2024 and arrested in April.
Pierce County Superior Court Judge Karena Kirkendoll handed down the sentence on Friday, which was at the upper end of the sentencing guidelines. Hatch must serve a minimum of 15 years and 4 months before he can seek release through the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board.
He has no previous criminal record but must now register as a sex offender. He is also prohibited from any future contact with the victim and must complete a psychosexual evaluation and treatment.
In statements submitted to the court, the woman’s nieces described how the trauma devastated her life. Once an active woman who enjoyed camping and motorcycle rides with her late husband, she now lives in fear, rarely leaves home, and struggles with PTSD and worsening dementia.
Hatch, a Tacoma native originally from Florida, told investigators he battled alcohol abuse and drank heavily the night of the assault—reportedly consuming almost two fifths of vodka. He previously worked in the computer-tech industry and had attended college before dropping out.
Separate Tacoma and Lakewood Cases Result in Plea Deals, Sentencings
In other developments in Pierce County Superior Court:
Lakewood Gas Station Robbery Case Results in Lesser Charge
Brandon Kahumoku Cajigal, 41, originally charged in connection with a fatal robbery at a Lakewood gas station, pleaded guilty last week to second-degree theft. Prosecutors downgraded the charges after further investigation revealed his involvement was less significant than first believed.
The 2022 robbery resulted in the shooting death of 33-year-old Carl Wayne White, who was in his Dodge Ram truck at the time. Surveillance footage showed a gray sedan, allegedly driven by Cajigal, pull up next to White’s truck. After Cajigal entered the truck, two other suspects approached. Moments later, one of them, William Roy McMullen, opened fire on White and drove off in the stolen vehicle.
Cajigal, who had already served over two years in jail, was sentenced to 90 days—the equivalent of time served. McMullen was convicted of multiple charges including first-degree murder and awaits sentencing on May 16. A third accomplice, Mumit Carter-Shabazz, accepted a plea deal in February and received 21 years in prison for second-degree murder.
Tacoma Shooting Suspect Revises Plea, Receives Reduced Sentence
Lawrence Edward Jerry III, 39, who had initially pleaded guilty to murder in connection with an October 2022 shooting, changed his plea and instead admitted to second-degree assault. He was sentenced to just over two years in prison, with credit for more than a year already served.
Jerry was implicated in the killing of 37-year-old Nicholas Ulugalu, who was fatally shot outside a motorhome in Tacoma’s Tideflats area. Jerry had arrived at the scene with the primary shooter, Kenny Lamont Haymore, 51, and left with him after the incident. Haymore was recently found guilty of first-degree manslaughter and two counts of first-degree assault, among other charges.
Officials say Jerry cooperated with prosecutors and testified in Haymore’s trial, which contributed to the revised plea agreement.
