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Friend remembers Wallingford arson victim as sole suspect is released

Aug 12, 2025, 7:47 AM

wallingford fire arson...

Firefighters attempt to put out a Wallingford house fire that occurred in June. (Photo courtesy of 成人X站 7)

(Photo courtesy of 成人X站 7)

A man suspected of setting a fire that killed a 72-year-old woman in Seattle鈥檚 Wallingford neighborhood is now free.

King County prosecutors have聽聽after police found new evidence suggesting it wasn鈥檛 him.

成人X站 7 spoke exclusively with a friend of the victim, who said the new development in the case has shaken her up.

But even before they received the news that the suspect in this arson is still out there, neighbors told 成人X站 7 that walking by this home brings back the tragic memories.



鈥淚鈥檓 so sorry that you suffered such a terrifying end,鈥 Becca Duran said.

Duran remembers her longtime friend and neighbor, Susan Klee 鈥 or as she and other close friends called her, Lisette 鈥 as 鈥渏ust a treasured friend.鈥

鈥淚 still remember what she was wearing when I met her,鈥 Duran added. 鈥淲e used to go to art museums and galleries together. So, it was a wonderful relationship.鈥

Klee tragically died when her house caught fire back in June.

Seattle police arrested 25-year-old Letian Shi in July for first-degree murder after investigators believed he set the house ablaze.

鈥淲hen arson was announced, I really became terrified,鈥 Duran said.

During Shi鈥檚 arraignment last week, his defense repeatedly argued that police had the wrong guy from the get-go.

And over the weekend, the King County Prosecutor鈥檚 Office dropped the charges and released Shi, adding, 鈥淪eattle police investigators found new information and that raised some questions about the suspect鈥檚 identity.鈥



As police continue searching for the right suspect, Duran says this means they have to continue to wait for closure, as she and this neighborhood hope justice comes soon.

鈥淲e all miss you very, very much,鈥 she said.

Her friends say they do plan to hold a private memorial in Lisette鈥檚 honor.

Of course, if you have any information about this case, Seattle police want to hear from you.

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