‘Not a typical case.’ Lacey woman gets 27-month prison sentence for killing partner
A Thurston County judge sentenced a Lacey woman Friday to more than two years in prison for second-degree manslaughter, ending a case that the victim’s family said should have warranted a more serious charge.
Evelyn Laine McMurray, 45, learned of her sentence towards the end of a four-hour hearing in Thurston County Superior Court.
McMurray pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, domestic violence, on March 11 for causing the death of Elizabeth Provence, 39, on Feb. 19. Her plea effectively locked in her criminal charge, preventing prosecutors from potentially pursuing a more serious charge and a longer sentence as the investigation continued.
Pleading guilty was McMurray’s right, a judge previously ruled. However, the result dismayed Provence’s family and friends, many who spoke out about the situation and called for a longer sentence during the Friday hearing.
Judge John Skinder ultimately ordered McMurray to spend 27 months in prison followed by 18 months in community custody. The final sentence is at the high end of the standard range and followed what Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Emily Leddige requested.
Skinder agreed this was not a typical case, but said he could not impose a longer sentence than the law allowed. He noted McMurray had no prior criminal convictions and there was no aggravating factor alleged by prosecutors.
“If I said, well this case is not a typical case… I’m going to impose a 10-year sentence, that would be what’s called an abuse of discretion, which means it would be appealed, it would be overturned,” Skinder said. “I can’t do that. My oath is that I have to follow the law.”
Prior to delivering the sentence, Skinder allowed speakers as much time as they needed and thanked them for sharing their love for Provence. In the end, he acknowledged the frustration shared by many.
“Unfortunately, the court system, there’s no way I can bring Elizabeth (Provence) back,” Skinder said. “The court doesn’t have the ability to do that and so a sentencing always feels somewhat hollow in this circumstance. But I heard repeatedly people calling out for justice and you have every right to be angry. You have every right to be angry.”
In addition to the prison sentence, Skinder ordered McMurray to undergo a mental health evaluation, domestic violence treatment and a substance use disorder evaluation. He also barred McMurray from contacting Provence’s family for 10 years.
Provence’s family speaks out
Lacey police found Provence on Feb. 25. That day, McMurray called 911 for medical aid, saying she felt unwell after taking too much fentanyl the night before, according to court records.
While first responders attended to her, she reportedly told them there was a body inside the apartment and she pointed to herself when asked how Provence died.
Provence was reportedly bound with duct tape and a ratchet-type strap and appeared to have been dead for several days.
The circumstances of Provence’s death left many of her family and friends skeptical that McMurray caused her death merely with “criminal negligence” as her charge indicates.
The court received 34 victim impact statements from Provence’s family and friends ahead of the hearing. More spoke in person.
Many remembered Provence as an exuberant person with a full-body laugh. They said she loved video games, soccer and death metal bands.
James Provence, Provence’s father, said he was only with Provence the first few years of her life and they later reconnected. He said he and his ex-wife already lost a child in a pure accident that he forgave.
“Maybe one day I can forgive this,” James Provence said. “I don’t know. I think the laws are broken. This is a tragedy flat out. I think the defendant willfully took (Elizabeth Provence’s) life. I believe this.”
George Hauser, one of Provence’s parents, said he and his family were stunned by Provence’s death and they are frustrated by how the case progressed.
“We shared several family holidays with the person she grew to love and live with,” George Hauser said. “It’s impossible to imagine that person would be the one that would betray her and take her life in a planned, purposeful and heartless way.”
Noble Hauser, Provence’s sibling, wondered aloud how McMurray may be imprisoned for just over two years despite the way his sister was found.
“Your honor, we plead that you no longer allow (McMurray) to determine what my family deserves,” Noble Hauser said. “We deserve to have my sister and without her my family at least deserves justice.”
Judge reads a letter from McMurray
McMurray opted not to speak during the hearing. However, Skinder read aloud a letter McMurray filed with the court.
In the letter, McMurray said she was badly triggered by a third party in early February and spend four days in Providence St. Peter Hospital for mental health treatment.
At the same time, she said she and Provence, who identified as transgender, were worried about the rightward tilt of national politics, including Project 2025, presidential transition plan organized by the far-right Heritage Foundation and described in a lengthy handbook.
“Meanwhile, she (Provence) and I were crucially aware of Project 2025’s promise to declare transgender folks sex offenders and to pull all sex offenders to death,” McMurray wrote. “We watched the news, looking like the start of the Third Reich here in the U.S.A.”
Among many goals, the project aims to eliminate protections for LGBTQ people and erase LGBTQ inclusive language from federal agencies. Though President Donald Trump disowned the project on the campaign trail, his administration has undertaken many of its goals.
“We had researched emigration and found no options there,” McMurray wrote. “Daily powerlessness and terror.”
McMurray said she met Provence a year before her death and worked to support her. She called Provence the love of her life.
“I miss her every day, but crying while incarcerated is bad for safety,” McMurray wrote. “Whenever I get out, I’m going to cry for months and even after. I was supposed to follow her to the grave. I tried for five days and failed.”
At the end of the Friday hearing, Skinder addressed McMurray one last time.
“I really encourage you to address every issue that you need to address so when you finish this sentence, you’re able to go back into the community and live a life that never harms another person,” Skinder said.
This story was originally published April 21, 2025 at 1:48 PM.
