A Washington woman who prosecutors said planned to kill her former boyfriend has been sentenced to prison after her parents discovered evidence of the plan and contacted police.
Trinity Morley, now 20, pleaded guilty last month to attempted first-degree assault with a domestic violence modifier. She was sentenced to 17 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. The court also ordered her to have no contact with her former boyfriend for 10 years.
The case dates back to July 27, 2025, in Maple Valley, Washington, when Morley’s parents became concerned after finding a journal that prosecutors said described her intention to confront her former boyfriend with a shotgun.
Earlier that evening, Morley had reportedly told her parents she was going out to graffiti houses. After she left, her parents searched her room and found the journal. Concerned about what they had discovered, they contacted 911.
At roughly the same time, the family of Morley’s former boyfriend was dealing with a frightening situation of its own.
His father reportedly saw a masked person dressed in dark clothing and carrying what appeared to be a rifle outside the home. The former boyfriend was not there at the time, but his father called 911 after seeing the person on the property’s security camera.
Investigators later identified the person as Morley.
Deputies searched the surrounding area and eventually located her at a nearby dock. Authorities said she was carrying a shotgun and a knife. After a short standoff, deputies persuaded her to put down the weapons and surrender.
According to court records, Morley later told investigators that she intended to kill her former boyfriend and then die herself in a confrontation with police.
The investigation also found that Morley’s parents had previously taken legal steps because of concerns about her access to firearms. They had obtained an extreme risk protection order earlier in July, according to court documents.
Prosecutors said Morley had tried to obtain a shotgun herself but was unable to complete the purchase because of Washington’s waiting requirements and the protection order. Investigators alleged that she later obtained a shotgun from her then-boyfriend after telling him she needed it for protection because of threatening messages.
Morley had previously accused her former boyfriend of sexual assault. Prosecutors said the allegation did not result in criminal charges and that investigators ultimately closed that case as unfounded. That history was cited in court records as part of the circumstances surrounding Morley’s actions.
The original criminal case attracted attention after investigators described writings found in Morley’s room and surveillance footage from the former boyfriend’s home. But the case ultimately moved beyond the initial attempted-murder allegations.
Morley’s guilty plea to attempted first-degree assault resolved the criminal case, leading to the prison sentence and a lengthy no-contact order.
She will now serve 17 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The 10-year order keeping her away from her former boyfriend will remain in place after her release.
