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SEATTLE - Convicted Level III sex offender Robert Lough was released from McNeil Island recently and moved into a neighborhood in Enumclaw, and neighbors are in an uproar.
According to the Washington State Sex Offender Registry, 66-year-old Lough was released from the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island on July 9 and is residing on West Lake Walker Drive Southeast in Enumclaw.
A King County judge ruled on July 8 that he be released from McNeil Island. Experts for both the prosecution and the defense determined that, while Lough is predisposed to commit future violent acts, he is not considered to be sexually violent anymore.
The release has sparked concern among nearby residents, who say they were not notified before Lough moved into the neighborhood.
"My greatest concern today would be my immediate family and children," said Jessica McCoy-Storton, who said she is speaking on behalf of a group of concerned residents. "It’s my kids, it’s my neighbors’ kids, it’s the neighborhood. It’s a community. This guy is dangerous."
Who is Robert Lough?
Robert Lough was convicted of first-degree rape and first-degree attempted murder in 1986.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 13 Seattle, Lough met with a woman at a bar in Renton, and after some games of pool, lured her into his van and drove out to the highway. He raped her, choked her unconscious, and then tried to stab her to death.
The victim awoke on the side of the road hours later, where she was spotted by a passing driver who took her to the hospital.
She was treated for severe trauma and at least 15 internal wounds, two black eyes and a broken eye socket. During surgery, a portion of her colon was removed. Court records indicate the victim suffered severe injuries that resulted in lifelong internal damage.
During evaluations conducted while he was in custody, Lough reportedly described himself as a "monster for five minutes" and attributed the attack to drug use, including a mixture of cocaine and heroin known as a speedball.
Dig deeper:
Lough was also accused of molesting a child in 1971, and another child between 1972–1977, and accused of raping his ex-wife in 1985.
Aside from sex crimes, Lough has a long history of violent crimes and drug crimes stretching from 1973 to his rape conviction in 1986. He was also convicted of third-degree assault while incarcerated on McNeil Island in 2010.
Robert Eugene Lough (FOX 13 Seattle, Washington State Department of Corrections)
Why was Robert Lough released?
After serving his prison sentence, Lough remained confined when a jury in 2015 determined he met the legal definition of a sexually violent predator. He was subsequently committed to the Special Commitment Center, a secure treatment facility for individuals deemed likely to commit future acts of sexual violence.
For years, King County prosecutors successfully argued that Lough should remain confined. However, court records show that on July 8, experts retained by both the prosecution and defense agreed that although Lough remains predisposed to commit violent acts, he no longer meets the legal criteria for a sexually violent predator because he is not considered likely to commit sexually violent offenses.
In court documents, a forensic psychologist wrote, "It would not be surprising if, upon release, he engaged in future acts of non-sexual violence.
Despite that information, the determination that he no longer met the criteria for a sexually violent offender meant the state could no longer legally hold him at the Special Commitment Center, resulting in his unconditional release.
The decision has left many residents questioning both the law and the process that led to Lough’s release.
"It was rather shocking," McCoy-Storton said. "As you continue to read through the documents, you ask yourself how this is even happening so close to home and in a community like Enumclaw with so many families and children."
Court records show Lough accumulated dozens of disciplinary infractions while confined at the Special Commitment Center. He was disciplined approximately 70 times for violent or disruptive behavior, including an assault in 2024 and threats directed at staff in 2025.
Records also show Lough was found in possession of a cellphone in 2023 that allegedly contained possible child sexual exploitation material. The Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office said no charging referral related to that allegation was ever submitted for review.
What they're saying:
Residents say they want answers about why no criminal charges were filed in connection with that incident or other alleged misconduct.
"What I would like to see happen next is a community town hall," McCoy-Storton said. "We need to ask local law enforcement, the King County Sheriff’s Office and the prosecutor’s office what steps can we take and whether some of these issues, such as the child sexual exploitation material, can be brought up."
The King County Sheriff’s Office said it is working with partner agencies to organize an online public meeting to address community concerns and answer questions about Lough’s release.
Meanwhile, residents say they are organizing to share information, encourage vigilance and push for greater transparency about the placement of high-risk offenders in their communities.
"We’re eight days after his release, and we were never notified," McCoy-Storton said.
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The Source: Information in this story comes from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle anchor David Rose, as well as previous coverage by FOX 13 Seattle.