Hoodsport, Wash. — Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of a woman and her boyfriend in Mason County, raising questions about the effectiveness of protective measures that were newly put in place. The incident occurred on March 24, one day after a judge granted a protection order to the victim against her estranged husband.
Robert T. Child, 60, faces charges for allegedly murdering his estranged wife, Anna Child, 46, and her boyfriend, Jason Hilde, 46, at a residence on North Hamma Hamma Drive East. Just the day prior, Anna Child had filed for the protection order, citing fear for her safety and detailing past threats from Robert Child, including a statement that no one else could have her if he couldn’t.
On March 23, the court issued an order preventing Robert Child from coming within 250 feet of Anna. However, that order had yet to be served when deputies responded to a report of gunfire the following evening and discovered Hilde deceased at the home entrance and Anna Child suffering from grave injuries inside.
The details surrounding the timing of the court order and the subsequent violence have drawn significant scrutiny. Mason County Sheriff Ryan Spurling noted that law enforcement had not been able to serve the protection order before the killings. He announced a review to determine if additional measures could have been taken to ensure the victims’ safety.
Witnesses reported seeing Robert Child at the scene shortly before the attack. One teenager in the house recounted seeing Child enter with a shotgun and shouting before hearing gunfire. Another observer claimed Child stated he would resist any attempts to arrest him. Prosecutors have also pointed out that Robert Child, a convicted felon, prohibited from possessing firearms, faces an additional charge for illegal possession of a weapon.
Hoodsport, a typically quiet community, is grappling with the violent implications of this case, highlighting the sometimes unpredictable nature of domestic violence. Local officials expressed deep concern given that Anna had sought legal recourse and there were clear indications that the relationship was deteriorating. The community is now mourning the loss of two lives while grappling with unsettling questions about systemic failures in the judicial response to domestic violence.
Following the double murder, local law enforcement quickly mobilized for a manhunt, successfully apprehending Robert Child the next day. In court, a judge set bail at $5 million pending the outcome of the prosecution unfolding against him, which includes multiple murder counts and burglary charges. Investigators have also sought additional evidence through search warrants, aiming to collect footage and other data pertinent to the case.
While the legal proceedings begin, a deeper concern looms among community members regarding the protective measures available for victims of domestic violence. Neighbors have reported hearing gunshots and expressed shock over the brutality of the incident, emphasizing the profound impact it has had on their small community.
As the legal case unfolds, both the prosecution and the internal review of the failure to serve the protection order remain in focus. The next steps include a series of court hearings, along with the anticipation of findings from the ongoing investigative review by the sheriff’s office. Community members hope that answers will emerge, offering some sense of closure in the wake of a tragedy that could have been avoided.