A King County jury has convicted Jesse Puff on two counts of murder, one count of arson and three counts of assault for a 2020 fire at the Hillside Motel that killed two people and injured several others. The early-morning blaze forced panicked residents to dive from upper-floor windows, and Monday's verdict closes out a multi-year investigation into one of Aurora Avenue North's most harrowing nights.
According to ATF Seattle, jurors returned guilty verdicts on all the major counts that investigators had pursued. Federal agents noted they assisted the Seattle Police Department throughout the probe that ultimately led to charges and the trial.
In 2020, Jesse Puff set a fire at the Hillside Motel in Seattle. The fire left 2 people dead and several others injured. @ATFHQ & @SeattlePD investigated.
— ATF Seattle (@ATF_Seattle) February 9, 2026
Today, a jury returned their verdict: Puff was found guilty on two counts Murder, one count Arson, and three counts Assault. pic.twitter.com/iNLThWDByn
Video, victims and the timeline
Surveillance footage from a rear stairwell at the Hillside Motel showed a man walking into the building and, roughly 30 seconds later, a sudden burst of light that quickly turned into a full-blown inferno, according to reporting by The Seattle Times. The flames spread so fast that several residents were seen jumping from a fourth-floor window to escape.
Two people later died at Harborview Medical Center, and the King County Medical Examiner ruled both deaths homicides. Prosecutors said the fire was deliberately set using containers of a flammable liquid and that Puff was tied to the scene through surveillance images and witness accounts.
Investigation and arrest
The Seattle Police Department initially handed the case to its Arson/Bomb Squad, then moved it to homicide detectives as the scope of the tragedy became clear. An ATF agent joined the follow-up investigation as well, according to a Seattle Police Department blotter post.
Detectives arrested Puff in late July 2020 after motel staff reviewed surveillance video and investigators matched the images to the suspect, the department said. As reported by KIRO-TV, charging documents alleged Puff had returned to the motel with containers of a flammable liquid after previously claiming he had tracked a stolen laptop to the property.
Neighborhood aftermath
In the months that followed, the Hillside Motel and nearby buildings did not just fade into the background. They were cited as chronic nuisance properties and became the focus of foreclosure and eviction actions as officials and neighbors wrestled with ongoing safety and homelessness concerns, according to subsequent reporting. The Seattle Times documented later enforcement efforts and community complaints tied to the site in the 2400 block of Aurora Avenue North.
Legal implications
Under Washington law, the convictions carry enormous potential penalties. RCW 9A.32.040 shows that murder in the first degree is punishable by life in prison. RCW 9A.48.020 classifies arson in the first degree as a class A felony, which can also mean a very long stretch behind bars.
Sentencing will be set in King County Superior Court, where filings will detail any proposed terms and the date when Puff is scheduled to be formally sentenced. This story will be updated as new court documents or statements from prosecutors and defense attorneys become available.
