Man Recently Released from State Prison Dies in Kent Crash

Man Recently Released from State Prison Dies in Kent Crash

KENT, Wash. – A man who had served three decades in prison for a notorious 1994 killing-for-hire case in Sumner died in a car crash in unincorporated King County just months after his early release.


The Fatal Crash

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Jason Lee Allison, 49. He died on August 12 from multiple blunt force injuries after a collision at South 272nd Street and 47th Place South.

Although the crash occurred within a Kent postal address, the location falls in unincorporated King County. Deputies from the King County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

As of August 15, investigators have not released further details about the cause of the crash. The case remains under active investigation.


Early Prison Release

Allison’s death came less than a year after his release from prison. In December 2024, the Washington State Department of Corrections released him from Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen.

He had originally been sentenced to life without parole in 1994 for his role in the killing of Marietta De La Cruz, a 59-year-old community leader in Sumner. But after serving 30 years, his sentence was reduced to 33 years following recent Washington Supreme Court rulings on juvenile offenders.

Those rulings recognized that young people convicted of serious crimes should be considered for resentencing, taking into account scientific findings about adolescent brain development.

A Department of Corrections spokesperson confirmed that Allison was not under community supervision at the time of his release.


The 1994 Murder Case

The crime that sent Allison to prison shocked the city of Sumner three decades ago.

Court records show that in March 1994, a 25-year-old woman hired three men—including Allison, then 18—to murder her mother, believing she would inherit up to $1.4 million as the sole heir of her mother’s estate.

Allison and another accomplice broke into De La Cruz’s home on the night of March 14 or early morning of March 15. A third man waited outside in the getaway car.

De La Cruz, a widow and respected leader in the Filipino community, was shot to death in her home.

Initially, investigators suspected the killing was the result of a burglary gone wrong. But further investigation revealed evidence of a murder-for-hire plot, prosecutors later said.

The three men were each reportedly offered between $25,000 and $50,000 for carrying out the murder. Authorities were never certain who pulled the trigger.


Legal Developments and Resentencing

In December 2024, Allison appeared in court for resentencing after decades of incarceration. The court considered his exemplary prison record and new legal standards for juveniles sentenced to life terms.

On December 2, 2024, a judge reduced his sentence from life without parole to 33 years, making him immediately eligible for release.

At the time, his case drew attention as part of a broader reexamination of how Washington handles sentences for individuals convicted of serious crimes committed as teenagers.


Community Impact

The murder of Marietta De La Cruz left a lasting scar on Sumner, where she was remembered as a prominent figure within the Filipino community. The case also highlighted the vulnerability of tight-knit immigrant communities to violence and betrayal.

Allison’s release in 2024 reopened old wounds for some, though it was also seen by advocates as a step toward recognizing rehabilitation in juvenile offenders.

His sudden death in a car crash just eight months later has brought renewed focus to a case that had long haunted Pierce County.


Ongoing Questions

The Kent Reporter attempted to contact the attorney who represented Allison during his resentencing, but had not received a response as of press time.

Meanwhile, investigators are continuing to piece together the circumstances of the August 12 crash. For now, the violent end of Allison’s life serves as the final chapter in a story that began with one of Sumner’s most infamous crimes nearly three decades ago.

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