Whatcom County man who tried to kill girlfriend with propane tanks sentenced
A Blaine man convicted of attempted first-degree murder was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison in Whatcom County Superior Court on Monday.
Clayton Edward DuBois, 44, was arrested on Aug. 20, 2024 after he hit his former girlfriend with propane tanks in an attempt to “mercy kill” her while high on methamphetamine. He then had a “change of heart” and dropped the victim off at St. Joseph Medical Center, where he was detained.
A jury found DuBois guilty of attempted first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a firearm following a trial in August.
In a sentencing memorandum, Public Defender Carl Munson requested an exceptional sentence for DuBois for less than 15 years in prison. He said the incident was “an aberration in Mr. Dubois’ life,” and that sentencing him to the standard range “would result in an unjustly harsh and excessive prison sentence.”
DuBois has stage four cancer, Munson wrote, and serving between 15 and 20 years in prison “will most likely be a death sentence for him.”
Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Benjamin Pratt said that DuBois took no responsibility for his actions during his trial or at his sentencing hearing. At the same time, he did take the victim to the hospital, likely saving her life.
“At the end of the day, he tried to undo what he had done,” Pratt said.
He said that by requesting the low end of the standard range for DuBois, the state wanted to encourage others to act similarly in other cases like this. Ultimately, the judge decided to follow that state’s recommendation rather than the defense’s, sentencing DuBois to 15 years and seven and a half months in prison followed by 18 months in community custody.
“That was the right decision, because what (DuBois) did was horrific,” Pratt said.
Munson said he plans to file an appeal on Tuesday.
“This case is not over,” Munson said.