Who Is Scott Sunford & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

Scott Sunford became a central figure in one of Washington state’s most unsettling murder investigations after his wife, Desiree Sunford, was found shot to death inside their Yakima County home in April 2013. Although he was never charged in connection with the crime, investigators spent years examining his relationships, his statements to police, and the complicated personal life that emerged after Desiree’s murder.

The case later gained national attention through programs including Dateline NBC and Oxygen’s Killer Relationship with Faith Jenkins. Much of the public fascination surrounding the investigation came from the revelation that Scott and Desiree had been involved in an unconventional relationship involving another woman, Paige Blades, whose presence would reshape the direction of the case.

• “Deadly Entanglement”: Dateline NBC Revisits Desiree Sunford’s Murder May 23 2026
• Who Was Desiree Sunford & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Paige Blades & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile
• Who Is Marty Grismer & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile

His Early Relationship With Desiree

Scott and Desiree Sunford were high school sweethearts who married in 2003. Friends and family members initially viewed them as a close couple who had grown up together and built a life through years of challenges, including Scott’s military service.

During the early years of the marriage, Scott served in the Army Reserves and spent long periods deployed overseas. Desiree remained focused on her teaching career while supporting the relationship from home. After returning from military service, Scott secured work at a military training center near Yakima, Washington, and the couple settled into what appeared to be a stable life.

The Marriage Takes an Unexpected Turn

Investigators later learned that the marriage had become far more complicated than many people around them realized. Scott admitted to detectives that he and Desiree had entered into what he described as a consensual three-way relationship with Paige Blades, a younger woman who had become close to the couple.

According to interviews later aired on Dateline NBC, Scott described the arrangement as an “experiment.” Paige Blades told investigators she had romantic and sexual relationships with both Scott and Desiree and had shared their bed. At one point, Paige even lived with the couple.

As investigators reviewed text messages and spoke with Desiree’s friends, they began to suspect the relationship was not as balanced as Scott and Paige initially claimed. Messages showed Desiree expressing discomfort with the relationship between Scott and Paige, especially when it came to the possibility of them having a separate sexual relationship.

Scott’s Actions on the Day of the Murder

On April 7, 2013, Scott was away attending a family funeral in the Tri-Cities area, roughly 100 miles from Yakima. He later told authorities he became worried after he could not reach Desiree by phone.

Scott called 911 that evening and explained he had recently been the victim of a burglary at the home. He feared the intruder may have returned. Deputies responding to the welfare check entered the home and discovered Desiree dead from multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigators examined Scott closely during the early stages of the case. As Desiree’s husband, he naturally became one of the first people detectives scrutinized. Authorities also questioned the circumstances surrounding the burglary and whether the crime scene had been staged to resemble a break-in.

The Investigation Into Scott and Paige

As the investigation deepened, detectives uncovered troubling communications between Paige Blades and Desiree. The messages revealed growing tension and included statements from Paige about Desiree’s “demise” and wanting to “do away” with her.

Authorities also learned Paige believed she was pregnant with Scott’s child, although later testing proved he was not the father. The combination of emotional conflict, jealousy, and hidden relationships kept investigators focused on Scott and Paige for years.

Despite those suspicions, investigators could not establish evidence placing Scott at the murder scene. Cell phone records supported his account that he was away from Yakima during the killing. Authorities eventually stated publicly that they found no evidence linking Scott directly to the murder plot.

The Arrest of Marty Grismer

The investigation shifted in 2015 when detectives received a tip pointing toward Marty Grismer, a coworker and close friend of Paige Blades. According to investigators, Grismer had become obsessed with Paige and believed killing Desiree would remove an obstacle standing in the way of Paige and Scott being together.

Authorities later connected Grismer to the murder weapon after gun parts were discovered hidden at his workplace. Ballistics testing matched the gun to evidence from the crime scene.

Grismer eventually entered an Alford plea to second-degree murder in 2017 and received a 15-year prison sentence. Investigators concluded that he acted alone. Scott Sunford was never charged in connection with Desiree’s death.

Public Scrutiny and Lingering Questions

Although authorities cleared Scott of involvement in the murder, public suspicion surrounding him never completely disappeared. The unusual relationship dynamics and the secrecy surrounding the affair fueled speculation for years.

Some of Desiree’s family members and friends continued to believe there were unanswered questions about the case. Dateline NBC’s “Deadly Entanglement” revisits those lingering doubts and explores why some people connected to the investigation still feel justice may have been incomplete.

Scott himself has largely remained out of the public spotlight since the conclusion of the criminal case. Unlike Paige Blades, who later participated in interviews discussing the investigation, Scott has kept a low public profile.

Where Is Scott Sunford Now?

There is little publicly available information about Scott Sunford’s current life or whereabouts. Since the investigation concluded and Marty Grismer accepted a plea deal, Scott has largely avoided media attention and has not maintained a significant public presence.

No public records or recent interviews indicate that Scott has faced criminal charges related to Desiree’s death. Law enforcement agencies involved in the case stated they found no evidence tying him to the murder itself.

More than a decade after Desiree Sunford’s killing, Scott remains one of the most discussed figures connected to the case because of the revelations about the marriage and the relationships surrounding the investigation. Even so, the official conclusion from authorities remains that Marty Grismer alone was responsible for the murder that ended Desiree Sunford’s life.