RAVENSDALE, Wash. — A man has been charged with second-degree murder in the homicide investigation of a beloved Ravensdale husband and father who was killed in September.
Andrew Ralph Baim has been charged with second-degree murder, second-degree arson and two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office requested $4 million bail and argued Baim poses a “significant danger to the safety of the community” and a “substantial flight risk,” according to court documents.
The documents said on Sept. 21 at around 7:30 a.m., a 911 call reported that 53-year-old Nick Valison had confronted several people who were possibly illegally dumping trash in a wooded area near 329th Place Southeast and 327th Way Southeast and was assaulted.
King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) deputies found Valison unresponsive and he was pronounced dead by paramedics.
Authorities learned during the investigation that the neighborhood had been having problems with illegal dumping and that Valison was checking on a U-Haul truck seen in the area.
The documents said deputies found the U-Haul truck, later confirmed to be stolen, in a wooded area nearby with a large amount of trash and assorted items on the ground.
A resident reported to authorities he saw a black or dark gray, older model pickup, possibly a Dodge Ram, driving recklessly and at a high rate of speed leaving the area.
Investigators learned King County Sheriff’s deputies had recently been in contact with someone, identified as Baim, driving a Dodge Ram matching the description the resident saw.
Later in the day, KCSO responded to the 26000 block of 336th Avenue for a report of a truck engulfed in flames. Court documents said the vehicle on fire was the same Dodge Ram Baim was seen with and was later confirmed to be stolen.
Investigators were able to obtain photos from Valison’s phone that were reportedly taken in the moments leading up to his assault. The photos also showed the Dodge Ram Baim was seen with.
The documents said through the investigation witnesses told authorities that Baim was driving the Dodge Ram when he ran Valison over following the confrontation.
Baim was taken into custody on Sept. 23 on unrelated warrants.