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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ex-deputy who killed wife to return to Spokane for hearing on release process

Tom DiBartolo, former Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy accused of shooting his wife, Patty DiBartolo, is unhandcuffed on  Dec. 10, 1997, while entering court to hear closing arguments from Spokane Prosecuting Attorney Jim Sweetser, right, in Spokane. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)

Former Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom DiBartolo, who was convicted of killing his wife in 1996 in Lincoln Park, was moved to the Yakima County Jail earlier this week from his work release facility ahead of his community custody hearing in Spokane next month.

The hearing’s subject will be the plan for the next steps in DiBartolo’s release process.

While the Department of Corrections website listed DiBartolo’s work release as suspended, the move was not due to a violation of the terms of his work release but rather in preparation for transport to Spokane ahead of the Nov. 5 hearing.

The DOC determined the move was premature and returned DiBartolo to the Ahtanum View work release facility. He will be moved to the Spokane County Jail closer to his hearing date, said DOC Communications Director Janelle Guthrie.

DiBartolo was sentenced to 26 years in prison for the execution-style murder of his wife, Patty DiBartolo.

The 64-year-old was transferred to the work release facility on Aug. 27 after serving the majority of his sentence at a prison on the East Coast.

He was last scheduled to be released from prison in February 2020, according to Department of Corrections records.