Man accused of motel arson that killed 2 charged with murder

SEATTLE — The 24-year-old man investigators said intentionally set a Seattle motel on fire has been charged with murder.

Multiple people jumped out windows to survive the fire at the Hillside Motel, located in the 2400 block of Aurora Avenue. And just days afterward, two of those people died.

Police said one of the victims, a 32-year-old woman, died from her injuries July 17. Another victim, a 24-year-old man, died from his injuries July 21.

According to court documents, Jesse Puff came to the motel two days before the fire looking for a stolen laptop he said had been tracked to the motel.

After leaving empty-handed, Puff allegedly returned two days later with jugs of some sort of liquid.

“He poured it all over the doors — you know, upstairs. And then poured it all the way down the stairs and everything,” said Katie Purcell, a woman who escaped the fire. When KIRO 7 asked her how did she know that, she said: “Because it shows it on the cameras.”

Puff said he was from Anchorage and had been traveling on the West Coast playing music.

Puff remains in the King County Jail on a $2 million bail.

Cox Media Group