If you spent any time watching true crime television in the early 2000s, you probably remember the face of Michael McGuffey. He was the guy who stayed on the run for nearly a decade, living a double life in Mexico while the FBI and "America’s Most Wanted" kept his photo on repeat.
But now, years after the courtroom cameras stopped flashing, people are asking a very different question: is he still behind bars?
Finding the exact Michael McGuffey release date isn't as simple as checking a calendar. It involves looking back at a 26-year sentence handed down in 2002, doing some math on "good time" credits, and understanding how the Washington State Department of Corrections handles high-profile murder cases.
The Crime That Put Him Away
To understand why people are tracking his release, you have to look at the 1993 tragedy in Mount Vernon, Washington. It was a brutal, public execution. Michael McGuffey shot and killed his ex-wife, Michele "Shelley" Torres, in the parking lot of the restaurant where she worked.
They had been divorced for only a month. Shelley had a restraining order. She was trying to move on, studying to become a legal assistant, but McGuffey wouldn't let her go.
After the shooting, he vanished.
For eight years, McGuffey lived in Mexico under the alias Mark Allen Price. He got remarried. He had a child. He was living a seemingly normal life in Guadalajara until a tip from a viewer of America’s Most Wanted finally brought the FBI to his door in November 2001.
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Breaking Down the Michael McGuffey Release Date
When McGuffey was finally brought back to Skagit County to face the music, he eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. In 2002, a judge sentenced him to 26 years in prison.
Now, if you do the basic math—adding 26 years to 2002—you get 2028.
But prison sentences rarely work that way in the real world. Washington State law allows for "earned release time" (often called "good time"). For serious violent offenses like first-degree murder, inmates can typically earn up to a 10% reduction in their sentence if they follow the rules and participate in programs.
Calculating the Timeline
- Sentencing Year: 2002
- Total Sentence: 312 months (26 years)
- Credit for Time Served: He had been in custody since his 2001 arrest, which counts toward the total.
- Good Time Potential: A 10% reduction would take off roughly 2.6 years.
This puts the estimated window for the Michael McGuffey release date somewhere between late 2024 and mid-2026.
Public records from the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) are the only way to get a pinpoint date, but these dates shift. If an inmate gets into a fight or breaks a major rule, that "good time" is taken away instantly. If they stay under the radar, they walk out earlier.
Why This Case Still Sticks With People
Honestly, it's the flight that gets people. Most murderers get caught within days. McGuffey didn't. He had help.
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During the investigation, it came out that his family in Texas—who were quite wealthy and owned nursing homes—were suspected of funnelling money to him while he was hiding in Mexico. That kind of resources makes a fugitive hard to catch.
There's also the "I (Almost) Got Away With It" factor. The show did an episode on him because he was so close to never being caught. He had a whole second life. A second family. When people search for his release date, they aren't just looking for a number; they're wondering if a man who successfully evaded justice for a decade will finally be a free man again.
Where is he now?
Currently, Michael McGuffey is an older man. He was 36 when he was caught in 2001, making him roughly 60 or 61 today.
He has spent the last two decades in the Washington state prison system. Unlike some states with "life means life" policies for first-degree murder, Washington’s determinate sentencing means he will be released unless he commits a new crime behind bars. There is no parole board to impress; he just has to finish the time the judge gave him.
What Happens When He Is Released?
When the Michael McGuffey release date finally arrives, he won't just be "free." In Washington, first-degree murderers are usually placed on Community Supervision (parole).
He will likely have:
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- Strict travel restrictions (he's a proven flight risk).
- No contact orders with the victim's family.
- Regular check-ins with a corrections officer.
- GPS monitoring in some cases.
Given his history of fleeing to Mexico, it’s highly probable that federal authorities and local police will keep a much tighter leash on him than the average parolee.
How to Verify the Exact Date Yourself
If you want to check the most current status—because these dates can change by the week—you should use the Washington DOC Inmate Search.
You’ll need his name or his DOC number. Because McGuffey is a high-profile offender, his status is public record. If he has been moved to a "work release" facility or a minimum-security camp, that’s usually a sign that his release is imminent, likely within the next 6 to 12 months.
The justice system moves slowly, but it does move. For the family of Michele Torres, the release of the man who took her life is a looming date that no amount of time can truly prepare them for.
Next Steps for Monitoring:
To stay updated on any changes to his custody status, you can register with VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday). This service sends an automated alert via text or email the moment an inmate’s status changes, whether they are transferred, escaped, or—most importantly—released. It is the most reliable way to know the second he steps foot outside a prison gate.