Snohomish County jurors find man guilty in WSP trooper death

Everett, Wash. — A Snohomish County jury Wednesday found Raul Benitez-Santana guilty of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault in the death of Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Christopher Gadd.

The jury found Raul Benitez-Santana guilty of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault, while also determining he was impaired while driving.

Benitez-Santana is accused of driving at an excessive speed after drinking and smoking marijuana before crashing into the back of a WSP cruiser on I-5. After the impact, his car swerved into traffic and was hit by another vehicle.

Trooper Christopher Gadd, who had been sitting in the cruiser with his lights off, was killed.

Jurors deliberated for about four and a half hours following closing arguments Wednesday.

During the case, detectives showed data that suggested Benitez-Santana was traveling over 100 miles per hour in the seconds before the crash.

“Mr. Benitez-Santana was exactly the sort of driver that Trooper Gadd was looking for,” said prosecuting attorney Tobin Darrow. “That was specifically his purpose. That was his duty.”

Throughout the case, defense attorneys pushed back on the evidence collected, including speed data and the results of a blood test that showed Benitez-Santana tested over the legal limit for intoxication.

“Failures in the blood collection process, storage and testing are reason to doubt these results,” one of Benitez-Santana’s attorneys said.

They also sought to poke holes in the broader investigation by claiming investigators led with tunnel vision on Benitez-Santana.

The arguments were not enough to sway the jury.

“Obviously we’re very satisfied with the jury’s verdict,” said Snohomish County Prosecutor Jason Cummings.. “It was a difficult, emotional case. My heart still goes out to the family and with the troopers who are out there today.”

Sentencing is set for July 2, 2025.

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