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Saturday, January 18, 2003
Woman's killer sentenced to life term without parole
King County Superior Court Judge Helen Halpert yesterday sentenced Roy Webbe, a mentally disturbed transient, to life in prison without parole for raping and killing Federal Way resident Deborah Funk.
The pain of her daughter's death compelled Shirley Tuthill to write a poem, which she read through sobs during the proceedings.
My daughter was murdered in the spring
And winter has set in my soul.
Raped and stabbed by a monstrous man
Our family will never be whole.
A jury convicted Webbe, 34, last month of aggravated murder and first-degree burglary for raping and stabbing Funk, 40, in her apartment in April 2000. He also broke into the home of another woman in the complex, Jeanne Anderson, and choked her before her daughter interrupted the attack.
The life sentence is mandatory for aggravated murder. The crimes also constituted the "third strike" for Webbe, who had raped and pulled knives on women before.
After killing Funk, Webbe prepared a meal of eggs and Canadian bacon in her kitchen. His fingerprints were found on the bacon package.
Prosecutors decided not to seek the death penalty, in part because of Webbe's long history of mental illness.
"Roy's very sorry about the incident," said his attorney, Mark Prothero.
Webbe kept his head bowed through most of the hearing. He declined to speak on his own behalf.
Funk's daughter, 21-year-old Jennifer Funk, didn't hesitate.
"It's killed me to see my baby sister cry for so long," Funk testified, glaring at Webbe. "The pain you've caused my family is not comprehensible to most.
"God will judge even you," she said.
P-I reporter Sam Skolnik can be reached at 206-467-1039 or samskolnik@seattlepi.com
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