Man enters guilty plea in grandparents' killings

SEATTLE — A man whose grandparents were found strangled with a shoelace hours after they threw him a party to welcome him home for prison entered a modified guilty plea to two counts of aggravated first-degree murder.

Michael Chadd Boysen, 27, entered an Alford Plea Thursday, which means he admits there's a substantial likelihood that he would be convicted of the two counts of aggravated murder.

Boysen’s grandparents, 82-year-old Robert R. Taylor and 80-year-old Norma J. Taylor, were found dead March 9 at their Renton home.

Prosecutors believe Boysen may have been plotting the murders from prison.

Boysen was arrested three days later after a manhunt and dramatic standoff at a Lincoln City, Ore., motel.

He had taken cash and credit cards from his grandparents’ home.

In his written statement read by the prosecutor in court, Boysen said he wanted to change his plea (from not guilty) because he's truly remorseful and didn't want to cause his family any more pain going through a trial.

But it also said that although he accepts responsibility, he did not act with premeditation.

He also remarked that he doesn't have "specific recollection" of what happened that night.

Boysen had been released from prison the day before the killings after serving time for attempted burglary. His grandparents picked him up at the Monroe Correctional Complex and held a party for him that night.

Prosecutors declined to seek the death penalty after consulting with the victims' family.

Boysen faces two life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Sentencing is set for October 18.

Previous stories:

No death penalty for man charged with killing his grandparents (8/30/2013)

Man charged with 2 counts of aggravated murder in slaying of grandparents (3/21/2013)

Suspect in grandparents' slayings out of hospital (3/18/2013)

Double slaying suspect airlifted with self-inflicted cuts (3/12/2013)

Manhunt ends after Oregon motel manager recognizes suspect in Renton slayings (3/12/2013)

Suspect in grandparents’ slayings captured in Oregon (3/12/2013)

Grandson of slain couple poses extreme danger; may be stockpiling weapons (3/11/2013)

Investigators looking for grandson of couple found dead in Renton home (3/10/2013)

Want to talk about the news of the day? Watch free streaming video on the KIRO 7 mobile app and iPad app, and join us here on Facebook.

KIRO