DEWAYNE LEE HARRIS | "The Seattle Shoelace Slasher" | Serial Killer Strangled Prostitutes In Seattle, Dumping Their Bodies In An Area Known As 'The Jungle' | Laughs In Court As Verdict Is Read | Autographed Letter Signed

Dewayne Lee Harris. Autographed Letter, Signed. Handwritten, Commercial #10 (4.125 × 9.5 envelope). Tacoma, WA. January 8 2025. Content unknown. SEALED.

DeWayne Lee Harris: Overview and Criminal Activities

Background Information

DeWayne Lee Harris, born in 1963, is an American serial killer infamously known as “The Seattle Jungle Killer” or “Chilly Willy,” but most notably referred to as “The Seattle Shoelace Slasher.” His criminal activities took place in Seattle between 1997 and 1998, during which he murdered three women. The bodies of his victims were discovered near freeways, specifically in an area known as the “Jungle,” which is an undeveloped plot of land beneath the I-5 and I-90 freeways.

Victims and Murders

Harris’s first victim was Denise Marie Harris, a 42-year-old woman whom he met on First Avenue in downtown Seattle. Along with an unnamed accomplice, he strangled her using a belt, removed some of her clothing, and bound her hands and ankles with shoelaces. He also stuffed a brassiere into her mouth before disposing of her body in the Jungle. Her remains were found on September 12, 1997.

Following Denise’s murder, Harris targeted Antoinette Jones, a 33-year-old woman. He accused her of stealing drugs from him and subsequently strangled her with a leather belt. Similar to his first victim, he bound her wrists and ankles with shoelaces and wrapped another shoelace around her neck. Her skeletal remains were discovered on February 1, 1998, indicating she had been dead for at least three months.

The last confirmed victim was Olivia Smith, aged 25. The circumstances surrounding her death are less clear; however, it is known that after picking her up from an apartment building at Airport Way South, they engaged in a violent argument regarding drug exchange for sex. In this altercation, Harris stabbed Smith multiple times and slashed her throat before leaving her body at the scene on January 10, 1998.

Arrest and Trial

Harris was arrested after confessing to the murders while incarcerated for an unrelated robbery charge. In April 1998, he contacted a detective claiming he could lead them to the murderer of the three women but later confessed to committing the murders himself. His confession revealed that he derived pleasure from killing these women.

During his trial in December 1998, Harris exhibited erratic behavior; he was restrained due to his unruly conduct. He was described by prosecutors as a cunning predator who preyed upon vulnerable women. Despite his attorney’s claim that Harris wanted recognition for being a serial killer rather than seeking personal gain from his confession, he was convicted on all charges.

In January 1999, DeWayne Lee Harris was sentenced to 94 years in prison. Upon hearing the verdict, he reacted with laughter – a response that shocked those present in the courtroom. In his final statements before sentencing, he warned that there were more killers like him at large and expressed no belief in true justice since he continued to live with certain privileges even while incarcerated.

Current Status

Harris initially served time at Clallam Bay Corrections Center but is currently housed at Stafford Creek Corrections Center (SCCC). He has claimed responsibility for additional murders beyond those for which he was convicted; however, these claims have not been substantiated.

Cultural Impact

The crimes committed by DeWayne Lee Harris have been featured in various media adaptations including episodes of crime docudramas such as Real Detective and American Detective. Additionally, interviews featuring him have appeared on podcasts like “Unforbidden Truth.”

The information provided about DeWayne Lee Harris illustrates not only his heinous acts but also highlights issues related to criminal psychology and law enforcement responses to serial killings.

VIDEO: DeWayne Lee Harris, serial killer in The Jungle area of Seattle | https://youtu.be/OFZlmIO2Lt0

Archiving Protocol:

• Handled with White Gloves ab initio

• Photo Pages/Sheet Protectors: Heavyweight Clear Sheet Protectors, Acid Free & Archival Safe, 8.5 × 11, Top Load

• White Backing Board – Acid Free

Shipping/Packaging: Rigid Mailer 9.5 × 12.5. White, self-seal, stay-flat, Kraft cardboard, no bend. Each rigid mailer is made of heavy cardboard, which has strong resistance to bending and tearing. Thicker than the USPS mailers. Shipping cost never more than it absolutely has to be to get it from me to you.