Jury Finds Killer Of Everett Police Officer Dan Rocha Guilty Of Aggravated 1st Degree Murder

Today a jury of eight women and four men found the man whose own defense attorneys admitted killed Everett Police Officer Dan Rocha on March 25th of 2022, guilty of aggravated first-degree murder.

The twelve member jury plus three alternates were all polled individually by Judge Bruce Weiss. In addition to the murder conviction with aggravating circumstances, jurors also agreed on the defendant’s guilt on felony drug possession, felon in possession of a firearm, attempting to elude police and two other felonies.

Judge Bruce Weiss set sentencing for Monday April 17th at 1 PM. The only possible sentence is life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The trial began on March 20th. Jurors deliberated for three hours on Friday and an hour and fifteen minutes today before returning with a verdict.

Dan Rocha became a police officer in Everett, Washington in 2018 after first being hired as a parking enforcement officer in 2017. He left behind a wife and two children.

The verdict was read to a full courtroom filled mostly with officers from the police department in Everett, Washington. After the verdict was announced Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman met with reporters outside the Snohomish County courthouse. Here’s a video of the statement he shared.

 
Here’s a written statement released this afternoon as well.

“Today’s verdict comes with mixed feelings. While on one hand, I am pleased to see that the defendant will be held accountable for his actions to the fullest extent of the law, it still doesn’t bring Dan back, nor does it change the fact that his family lost a loving son, husband, brother and father.

I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to the entire investigative team, and in particular lead detective, Kendra Conley with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the prosecution team of Craig Matheson and Bob Langbehn, who have all spent the last year diligently preparing for this trial. I can never express my level of appreciation for them. Their tireless efforts and extreme competence secured a verdict in this case that brings justice to the family and our department members. They are among the finest public safety professionals I’ve had the honor to work with in my career.

Moving forward, the Everett Police Department will remain steadfast in our commitment to honor and remember Officer Rocha and his legacy of community service. We will never forget.”