Bio

Daniel Patrick Lynam was born in 1951. By 1987, Lynam was 36 years old and living in a rented house in Federal Way, Washington, with his wife and their two young children. Reports described him as a loner. Relatives and acquaintances also said he had a history of mental health problems and trouble keeping a job.

Before the killings, Lynam’s parents and his wife’s parents lived in separate homes in north Tacoma, Washington. The homes were about three miles apart. There is no verified public record showing a clear dispute, financial motive, or specific event that caused the murders.

Murder Story

The murders happened in Tacoma and Federal Way, Washington, around July 10–12, 1987. Police believed Daniel Patrick Lynam may have killed some of the victims over a period of two days. The first bodies were found on Saturday night, July 11, 1987, at two separate homes in north Tacoma. Lynam’s parents were found dead in one home, and his wife’s parents were found dead in another home about three miles away. All four had been shot in the head. Police believed a .38-caliber pistol was used.

That same night, police in King County received a call from an anonymous man. The caller said his brother had called him and admitted killing people. The caller also said his brother had a history of mental illness and was preparing to kill himself. He directed police to a rented house in Federal Way, about ten miles north of Tacoma.

When officers arrived at the Federal Way house, they were met by a man who warned them to stay back. He reportedly said, “I don’t want to hurt you.” About ten minutes later, officers heard a noise from inside the house. When they entered, they found Lynam dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His wife, 2-year-old daughter, and 5-week-old son were also found shot to death inside the home. Police quickly connected all three crime scenes and concluded that Lynam had killed his parents, his in-laws, his wife, and his two children before killing himself.