SEATTLE, WA - One year ago today, Cameron Espitia pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge after he was accused of executing his wife during an Uber ride. Espitia, 31, allegedly shot his wife in the back of the head after drinking heavily at a wedding.

Espitia is still on trial for the murder. According to court records, Espitia's attorney has requested that an expert witness interview him, with the next hearing scheduled for July 26. According to King County prosecutors:

On July 2, 2017, Espitia and his wife, Jennifer Morrison Espitia, 29, attended the wedding of mutual friends and Cameron Espitia had decided to "cut loose." After the reception, Cameron Espitia wanted to go to an after-party, but his wife wanted to return to their home in Seattle's Hillman City neighborhood. An Uber driver picked the the couple up at the Courtyard Marriott along Westlake Avenue in South Lake Union. The Uber driver told police that the couple argued during the ride, and Cameron Espitia, who was in the back seat, swore at his wife.

At one point, Cameron Espitia requested to be let out along Aurora Avenue, according to charging documents. Jennifer Espitia told the Uber driver to keep going. A few minutes later, the Uber driver noticed that the ride had been cancelled in the Uber app. When the driver went to ask why the ride was cancelled, he suddenly heard a loud boom and saw Jennifer Espitia's face "drop." Fearing for his own life, the driver asked Espitia where he would like to be dropped off. Espitia told the driver to pull over, and then walked off. The driver drove for one more block an then called 911 to report the shooting.

Seattle police later located Cameron Espitia along Queen Avenue North near the Safeway. He told police he was "having a bad night" with his wife and that she had stranded him. He also told police that he worked for the military – Espitia was a U.S. Coast Guard marine enforcement officer – and was carrying a gun.



At a July 6, 2017 hearing, Espitia's Coast Guard coworker, Elliot Felix, told the court his friend was innocent.