TACOMA, Wash. — A Tacoma woman who was convicted of murder and over a dozen counts of arson was sentenced to more than 80 years in prison on Tuesday.
Sarah Jane Ramey set a string of fires in Tacoma and Ruston between late December 2021 and late January 2022, the first of which caused the death of James Elliott, a father and grandfather who lived in North Tacoma on Rosemount Way.
Neighbors testified during the trial that Elliott was awake when the fire ignited at his home, and that they desperately tried to reach him before he was found dead of smoke inhalation by firefighters. Elliott had attempted to shelter from the fire in his bathroom.
Elliott's daughter Elizabeth Keating spoke at the sentencing on Tuesday, saying Ramey's actions have hung over her entire family for the last two years.
"I've laid awake many nights haunted by the thought of his last moments," Keating said.
Keating asked the judge to hand down the maximum sentence.
After the fire at Elliott's home, Google search history shows that Ramey not only looked up her own crime but was aware that someone was killed in the fire she set in late December. Ramey further returned to the home and stole a checkbook and other items belonging to Elliott's late wife. Ramey wrote thousands in faulty checks in the Elliott family's name.
Ramey continued to set homes on fire before she was arrested in late January, destroying three in total.
One homeowner said their family is still recovering from the arson, saying their finances, peace of mind and mental wellbeing have all been negatively impacted by Ramey's actions.
"Only a monster could enjoy the destruction and then do that again, over and over, possibly killing other people and destroying their homes," the homeowner said.
The state asked the judge to hand down an "exceptional sentence," which is a sentence outside of the standard range, requesting 1,412 months in prison, or over 111 years.
Virginia Ayarza, whose Tacoma home was damaged in one of the arsons, told the judge Ramey should get the death penalty. Following the sentencing hearing, Ayarza said she was satisfied with the sentenced handed down Tuesday.
"If it keeps her in for life, I'm happy," said Ayarza.
Joe Sharkey, whose family of five escaped the fire Ramey started, said he was grateful for the sentence.
"In 2024," said Sharkey, "It's nice to see justice served."
Ramey's defense attorney argued that a standard sentence between 34 and 45 years would be sufficient in meeting the needs of the community, saying her client would be unlikely to live long enough to be released from prison anyway.
The judge sided with the state and victims who requested a maximum prison term, handing down a sentence of 980 months in prison, or over 81 years.
Judge Angelica Williams said Ramey's actions amounted to a callous and utter contempt for human life, saying the defendant knew she could potentially be killing more people every time she set fire to a home. In one instance in particular, the judge believes Ramey knew a newborn baby was inside a residence that she set fire to.
"What is abundantly clear is that it seems it did not matter to you, and that utter disregard for human life - it shocks the conscience," Williams said.
The judge found a basis for an exceptional sentence, saying it was proportionate to the extreme seriousness of Ramey's crimes.
"Your conduct has shown that every minute you are incarcerated is another minute the community is safer," Williams continued.