Nicholas Valison, a Ravensdale, Washington man murdered in the woods on Sept. 1 while walking the family dog, Nanuk, may have been targeted for witnessing a crime, his wife believes.
The victim’s widow, Tanie Valison, spoke exclusively to FOX 13, and stated her husband was “checking on a large box truck that was suspiciously parked,” at the time of his death.
Ravensdale man mysteriously murdered
“He actually said that morning, I think this is the last time I will wear these shoes because they had 625 miles on them. He logged that many miles on those shoes,” she said of her husband of almost 30 years.
While driving their daughter to school, Tanie said she spotted a large U-Haul truck parked suspiciously at the bottom of the hill. Her first instinct was to call Nicholas and a neighbor, and ask them to check out the seemingly suspicious truck.
“There is something down there. You might want to take a look,” Tanie recalled telling her husband and neighbor on the phone. According to Tanie, Nicholas was likely attacked and left for dead before the neighbor — who called 911 — arrived. “Before he could get there, they violently attacked him,” she said.
She arrived on the scene to see paramedics desperately trying to revive him. “They couldn’t save him. Still, that’s what I see. I see my husband on the ground. That’s the last vision I have of him.” Tanie said.
A neighbor of the victim’s family recalled passing near the truck with her dog when Nick was already there, alerted her to leave. “He actually was a hero that day,” Tanie commented. “She could have been injured.”
Family and friends remember Nicholas Valison
Nicholas had two daughters, Tessa, 22, and Anna, 15, whom he loved taking dirt biking on the trails around the wooded property. According to Tanie, Nicholas enjoyed being outdoors and loved engaging in fun activities with his daughters.
Nanuk, the family dog, wasn’t harmed during the horrific incident. “Every day, we have to wake up and have that realization that he’s not coming back,” Tanie told Fox 13 News. “He cared about people way more than anything else, and the outdoors.”
The eldest daughter, Tessa, had just started a new job at a Law firm in Phoenix. She, however, had to make a trip back home following the tragedy. “The circumstances would break her dad’s heart. She had just started her life there,” a devastated Tanie told Fox 13 news.
Anna, on the other hand, had just joined high school and now has to navigate life without her beloved father. Family and neighbors have left floral tributes at the spot where Nicholas died.
Nick’s family seeks justice, reward in place
Tanie and family are struggling to come to terms with Nick’s death and hope the police will soon bring the perpetrators to justice. “Every day we have to make a decision to get up and do this and more importantly now is just to find justice for Nick, that’s what keeps us going,” Tanie said.
Investigators from the Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound are appealing to the public to come forward with any information that could lead to an arrest and charges. Tippers can provide information by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or through the P3 Tips App. There’s an anonymity guarantee for anyone who submits information to the investigators. The Crime Stoppers reward currently stands at $6,000.
