A fatal shooting in Hoodsport has highlighted the challenges of enforcing protective orders in Washington state domestic violence cases. The incident occurred on March 24, 2026, when a 60-year-old Sequim man killed his estranged wife and another man, approximately 30 hours after a judge granted them formal protection.
Mason County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a reported shooting at a residence on N. Finch Creek Road around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Upon arrival, officers found a 44-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man dead from gunshot wounds. Investigators identified the suspect as Robert Terry Child, who had left the location before law enforcement arrived. He was stopped by the Washington State Patrol on Highway 101 and taken into custody.
Court documents show that the legal proceedings began on March 9, 2026, when the victim filed a petition for a Civil Protection Order. A Temporary Order for Protection was issued that same day. A hearing to determine the final status of the protection order took place at 9:00 a.m. on March 23, 2026, before Judicial Officer Monty D. Cobb. The final order was finalized that day, preceding the fatal shooting by less than two days.
Robert Terry Child was booked into the Mason County Jail at 7:28 p.m. on the night of the murders. The jail roster indicates he is being held without bail on two counts of Murder in the 1st Degree. The Mason County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed an information charging the suspect the following day, March 25, 2026, and requested an arrest and detention based on probable cause. A bench warrant was issued on that date.
On March 26, 2026, the suspect appeared before Judicial Officer David Stevens for a warrant identification hearing, formally establishing the court’s jurisdiction over the case. The sequence of events has prompted scrutiny regarding the effectiveness of civil protective measures in preventing violence in high-risk domestic situations.