TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — A 54-year-old Tacoma man who initially blamed the mafia for fatally shooting his wife then setting their house on fire has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder.
KOMO-TV says Michael Carlson was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison.
On Jan. 3, neighbors awoke to explosions from Carlson’s home. Carlson was in flames on his front lawn yelling that his wife Laura was trapped inside.
Investigators say Carlson shot his wife 10 times, then doused their home with gasoline and set it on fire. Firefighters found a typed letter explaining the whole thing was a mafia hit.
Detectives say the letter was written on Carlson’s computer.
No motive for the murder was provided.
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Information from: KOMO-TV, http://www.komotv.com/
