SEATTLE — David Williford, a man with a notorious history of animal abuse and child sex crimes, was apprehended on May 12 after cutting off his ankle monitor several days before.
Williford, who was recently sentenced to home arrest for child sex crimes, was last seen on May 5 in West Seattle’s North Admiral neighborhood.
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KOMO News has reported on Williford for a decade. In 2015, he faced six counts of animal abuse, with prosecutors alleging he methodically tortured animals for entertainment. That same year, he was also charged with child rape and child molestation.
On April 29, Williford was sentenced to home arrest and ordered to stay with his mother. However, just six days later, he removed his ankle bracelet. Authorities were alerted and responded within 40 minutes, but Williford had already fled.
Seven days later, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office announced the fugitive had been apprehended on May 12, 2025, following a multi-agency manhunt.
The MCSO responded to a welfare check at High Steel Bridge after reports surfaced that Williford was in the area.
Deputies discovered Williford climbing the structural beams beneath the bridge. The MCSO said he was experiencing a mental health crisis and was initially uncooperative.
After approximately 30 minutes of negotiations, deputies, with the help of a civilian at the scene, persuaded Williford to surrender.
Williford was safely taken into custody and transported to Mason General Hospital for a mental health evaluation.
He was subsequently handed over to the Department of Corrections and transported to jail on an outstanding warrant for Escape from Community Custody.
