King County Sheriff’s detectives have arrested a suspect in the murder of Nick Valison of Ravensdale on Sept. 21, 2023. Prosecutors have charged 38-year-old Andrew Baim with Murder in the Second Degree, Arson in the Second Degree and Possession of Stolen Vehicle (two counts). He is being held on $4,000,000 bail.
Detectives say he ran over Valison in a stolen truck that he later torched to destroy evidence.
According to the charging documents, Baim was with Alyssa Nicole Montana and Bart McMurray going through the contents of a stolen U-haul when Valison approached them.
McMurray was a wanted fugitive on Oct. 4, 2023 for Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. Detectives say he drove the stolen U-Haul to Ravensdale. He was arrested on his warrants on November 9, 2023. He is in the King County jail. He detailed everything that happened that day and said he was not in the truck when Nick was killed. He jumped in afterwards and the three sped away and later burned the truck to destroy evidence. Neither he nor Alyssa have been charged in Nick’s murder. Alyssa told detectives that Baim gunned the engine on the truck to try to get Nick to move. Nick told them he had called law enforcement and they weren’t going anywhere. When he refused to move, she said Baim ran him over with the truck.
“Throughout this case, the Major Crimes Unit had significant assistance from many King County Sheriff’s Office Units. We would like to thank the Maple Valley Special Emphasis Team, our Gun Violence Reduction Unit, our Criminal Intelligence Unit, the K9 Unit, Fire Investigations, MARR, King County AFIS, the Muckleshoot Police Department, Precinct 3 patrol, and our Air Support Unit for all of their assistance. This case could not have been completed without the teamwork we saw in it.,” said a spokesperson for the King County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit.
A tipster was also key to the investigation. Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound has confirmed with detectives that a viewer tip helped solve the case. That anonymous tipster will receive the cash reward. Thank you!
Baim is a Level 1 registered sex offender who was non-compliant. He was convicted of Communication with a Minor For Immoral Purposes. In 2017, at age 31-32, Baim exposed himself and made physical contact with a 12-year-old girl.
Bart McMurray was arrested on his warrants on November 9, 2023. He is in the King County jail. Detectives say he admitted to being with Andrew Bain when Bain ran over Nick Valison, killing him in Ravensdale on Sept. 21, 2023.
