EVERETT—A jury delivered a guilty verdict on June 4, 2025, convicting Raul Benitez-Santana, 33, of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault in the death of Washington State Patrol (WSP) Trooper Christopher Gadd. The decision, reached after just two hours of deliberation, marks a somber milestone in a case that has gripped the region since the fatal crash on Interstate 5 in March 2024.
Trooper Gadd, a 27-year-old husband and father, was killed in the line of duty on March 2, 2024, while parked on the shoulder of southbound I-5 near Marysville. Benitez-Santana, a Lynnwood resident, was driving a GMC Yukon Denali at a staggering 112 mph, under the influence of alcohol and marijuana, when he veered onto the shoulder and struck Gadd’s parked patrol cruiser, killing him instantly and sending Benitez-Santana’s vehicle careening into a van carrying six passengers, injuring its driver.
“This is a day of justice for Trooper Gadd, his family, and our community,” said Snohomish County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tobin Darrow, who, alongside Deputy Prosecutor Isaac Wells, led the case. “No verdict can undo the loss, but we hope this brings some measure of closure to those who loved Chris.”
Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Karen Moore presided over the case. Benitez- Sanatana’s defense attorneys were Tiffany Mecca and Emily Hancock who are members of the Snohomish County Public Defender Association. The prosecuting attorneys in the Christopher Gadd death case were Tobin Darrow and Isaac Wells from the Snohomish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Court documents revealed Benitez-Santana admitted to drinking two Coors Light beers and smoking marijuana earlier that evening, with a blood alcohol content of 0.047 measured hours after the incident.
Deputy Prosecutor Darrow argued that Benitez-Santana’s actions were not merely reckless but a blatant disregard for human life. “Driving 112 mph on a freeway is dangerous enough,” Darrow told jurors. “But to do so on the shoulder, impaired by alcohol and drugs, is a choice that cost Trooper Gadd his life.”
The defense contended that Benitez-Santana mistook the shoulder for a travel lane and that Gadd’s cruiser lacked visible lights. However, the jury rejected these arguments as insufficient, unanimously finding Benitez-Santana guilty on both counts.
The jury returned special verdicts alongside the guilty verdicts for vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. Specifically, the jury found that Benitez-Santana was impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time of the fatal crash. This special verdict was based on evidence that Benitez-Santana admitted to consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana earlier that evening, with a blood alcohol content of 0.047 measured hours after the incident, as well as testimony regarding his erratic driving at 112 mph.
The special verdict of impairment serves as an aggravating factor, potentially increasing the severity of his sentencing, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. on July 2, 2025.
Trooper Gadd’s death sent shockwaves through the state, where he was remembered as a dedicated officer, a loving husband to his wife Cammryn, and a devoted father to his 2-year-old daughter Kaelyn.
Benitez-Santana, a Mexican national who was illegally in the U.S., has a history of traffic violations and a 2019 domestic violence charge, remains in custody at Snohomish County Jail without bail, pending his sentencing in July. He now faces up to life in prison for vehicular homicide, with additional penalties for vehicular assault.
As sentencing approaches, the Lynnwood Times joins our readers in reflecting on Trooper Gadd’s sacrifice and the enduring strength of his family and colleagues. We invite the community to share memories of Gadd or messages of support on social media or in the comments below.
Message from Chief John R. Batiste on Verdict in the Benitez-Santana Trial
Below is a statement released by WSP Chief John B. Batiste on the guilty verdict in the Gadd trial:
The Washington State Patrol would like to thank the people of Washington for their outpouring of support for our fallen Trooper Christopher Gadd, his family, loved ones, and those who served our state and system of justice by serving on the jury of his killer.
On March 2, 2024, Trooper Gadd was pronounced dead at the scene, after being struck by driver Raul Benitez-Santana. Benitez-Santana was driving over 100 miles per hour and impaired when he struck Trooper Gadd’s vehicle. Benitez-Santana was charged with vehicular homicide and vehicular assault while under the influence.
The jury’s unanimous verdicts of guilty of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault are just and welcomed. With this decision, one more dangerous driver is removed from our streets, something Christopher Gadd dedicated his life to doing with every shift, by committing himself to conducting ‘one more stop’ on every day he served our state as a Washington State Trooper.
While the verdict does not take away the pain of losing Chris, it does offer a modicum of relief for those who served with and loved this fine young man. Our thoughts and enduring support remain with his widow and young daughter as well as his mother, father, and sister.
We will never forget Trooper Chris Gadd.
Author: Mario Lotmore
