WASHINGTON MAN HELD IN SEX OFFENDER KILLINGS TRIES TO PLEAD GUILTY

Michael Anthony Mullen, 35, was arrested in the shooting deaths of two convicted child rapists.  He tried to plead guilty before he had even been formally charged.  He will likely be charged with two counts of first degree murder.  Police said Mullen used a sheriff's web site to find the men and might have targeted them in reaction to a notorious case in Idaho in which investigators believe three people were killed and children abducted for sex in May.  One of those children was later slain.  Mullen called 911 September 5 to turn himself in and confessed to killing Hank Eisses, 49, and Victor Vazquez, 68, in their home on August 27.  Eisses and Vazquez were both classified as Level 3 sex offenders, the type considered most likely to reoffend.  Eisses, sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison in 1997 for raping a 13 year old boy, was released from supervision about two years ago.  Vazquez was convicted in 1991 of molesting several relatives.  He was released from prison about two years ago and remained under state supervision.  Mullen asked Superior Court Commissioner David Thorn via closed circuit television from jail during a preliminary hearing, Can I have a speedy trial?  I would like to plead guilty.  Bail was set at $1 million.  

(Bellingham, Washington)