Prosecutors will seek life in prison for Tacoma man accused of 2 gruesome murders

TACOMA -- Pierce County prosecutors announced Friday they will seek life in prison without the possibility of parole for a man accused of killing two people in May.

Aaron Lamar Livingston, 39, is charged with two counts of aggravated first degree murder and one count of attempted first degree murder.

“In Washington State, the death penalty is reserved for the most heinous crimes and the worst of the worst defendants,” said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist. “After we spoke with the families of the victims, as well as the surviving victim, and taking into account the facts and current law, I decided to seek a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.”

Prosecutors say Livingston used an ax to murder 25-year-old Andrew Giessler who he thought was in a romantic relationship with his girlfriend. He's accused of choking his girlfriend who survived the attack.

Livingston then strangled his girlfriend's roommate, 60-year-old Denyse Marshall, to death, according to prosecutors.

They say Livingston called his father to confess and then called Tacoma police and provided a full confession.

Police said Livingston's criminal history  includes non-violent property crimes in 1993 as well as traffic misdemeanors.