Man pleads guilty to murder years after being revived from the dead

Seattle Times breaking news reporter

In November 2020, Michael Knapinski, of Woodinville, died in the emergency room of Harborview Medical Center, or so it seemed.

Helicopter searchers had found him in the Nisqually River drainage after he had gotten separated from a friend while hiking in Mount Rainier National Park in whiteout conditions. It appeared he had fallen.

His heart had stopped for 45 minutes before he was brought back to life by medical staff.

In the days following his resuscitation, he told The Seattle Times that “as soon as I get physically able, that’s going to be my calling in life … just helping people.”

That was six years ago. Knapinski has been in jail since 2024. Last week, the 51-year-old pleaded guilty to second degree murder with a firearm in the death of a man who was allegedly selling him drugs.…