A Tragic Loss: Family’s Grief as Suspect in Motorcycle Death Released on Low Bail

In a heart-wrenching case that has shocked the Anacortes, Washington community, a man charged with second-degree murder in the death of motorcyclist Dennis “D.J.” Thornlow has been released on what experts are calling an “extraordinarily low” bail. Josue Flores, 49, is accused of intentionally running over Thornlow with his car on July 2 and dragging his body more than 50 yards across a parking lot. Despite the severity of the charges—which include felony hit-and-run, vehicular homicide, and second-degree murder—Judge Thomas Verge set bail at just $50,000, a decision that has left Thornlow’s partner, Jordan Weeks, feeling “hopeless” and questioning the justice system.

According to court documents, the incident began when Thornlow reportedly swerved into a parking lot while Flores was allegedly following too closely behind him. After Thornlow fell off his motorcycle, surveillance footage allegedly shows Flores sharply turning his car toward the fallen motorcyclist, running over his head and leg before dragging him for 62 yards. When questioned by police, Flores offered a different narrative, claiming Thornlow had harassed him, shouted racial slurs, and made death threats. He also stated Thornlow was wearing a “Nazi-type helmet” and suggested the confrontation was racially motivated because he is Hispanic. However, investigators found no evidence supporting these claims, and Flores’ statements about why he was driving that day were contradicted by his own mother.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani expressed astonishment at the bail decision, stating that it “shocks the conscience.” Rahmani emphasized that such a low bail for a second-degree murder charge is virtually unheard of in his experience. “This is extraordinarily low for any type of bail and certainly, in a case like this, there should be no bail at all,” he told Fox News Digital. “This is someone that should be spending the rest of his life in prison, and instead, he’s out a free man.” The public’s outrage over this decision, Rahmani suggests, is entirely justified given the severity of the alleged crime and Flores’ criminal history.

Court records reveal that Flores has a troubling past, including a 1996 conviction for fourth-degree assault after shooting someone with a BB gun, for which he received a largely suspended one-year sentence. More recently, in March 2022, he was charged with assaulting a healthcare worker, allegedly punching them “4 or 5 times” while they attempted to administer medication. Though that case was dismissed, neighbors have reported concerning behavior, including one instance where Flores allegedly said, “if someone f—– with me, they wouldn’t live to tell about it.” Other neighbors mentioned he would often speak about past gang involvement with SUR13, raising further questions about the appropriateness of such a low bail amount.

For Jordan Weeks, Thornlow’s partner of six years, the loss is immeasurable, and the bail decision has only deepened her pain. “I was shocked. I didn’t understand. I thought, did I hear him wrong?” Weeks recounted of the moment the judge announced the bail amount. She firmly disputes Flores’ characterizations of Thornlow, describing him as someone who “always met you with kindness and respect” regardless of background or appearance. “He was friends with everybody… it doesn’t matter what you looked like or what background you had,” she emphasized, adding that Flores’ accusations seemed “unfounded” and inconsistent with the man she knew intimately.

Beyond the legal proceedings, Weeks painted a picture of who Thornlow truly was—a devoted father to a 13-year-old daughter with whom he shared a “very beautiful relationship,” and a supportive partner who prioritized her needs during a stressful period in her career. “Being a father is one of the most important things to him,” she reflected, highlighting the profound loss not just to her but to his daughter and the broader community. As the case moves forward, Weeks and others close to Thornlow are left to navigate their grief while awaiting justice in a system that, to them, has already shown troubling signs of leniency toward the man accused of intentionally taking a beloved father and partner’s life in such a violent manner.