Damian Eiffert told his ex-girlfriend he loved her, then added words that would seal his fate in a Washington state courtroom: 'I'm done … I just killed my dad.' The chilling confession came moments after the 40-year-old son had plunged a steak knife into his father Robert 'Boby' Eiffert's neck, head and chest while the 61-year-old sat in his recliner—and then jumped over the dying man's body to flee.
Background
The homicide unfolded on October 22, 2024, when Spokane Police Department officers responded to a stabbing call at Thor and 1st Avenue in East Spokane around 2:29 p.m. Upon arrival, they found Robert Eiffert with multiple stab wounds despite lifesaving efforts by medical professionals, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
According to arrest affidavit details reported by local CBS affiliate KREM, Damian Eiffert had asked his father for a ride to treatment but was met with refusal. That rejection appeared to push him over the edge. The defendant told investigators he 'could not take his dad anymore' and stabbed him to death.
Neighbors discovered Robert Eiffert 'all cut up' lying in their apartment building's doorway, according to police. Another resident reported seeing him on the front porch with blood coming from his neck and chest—and observed Damian exit, leap over what witnesses described as Boby's body, then drive away in his father's car.
Surveillance video corroborated witness accounts, showing Damian Eiffert leaving through the front door with a dog before walking to a nearby vehicle. The footage also captured Robert Eiffert stagger out and slump just outside the doorway.
The Investigation
Damian Eiffert's criminal history loomed large over the case—he entered the murder investigation with nearly a dozen felony convictions already on his record, according to court documents.
Police learned that before the killing, Damian had been smoking methamphetamine and was suffering from opioid withdrawal. His mother told investigators he was 'all over the place' during a phone call she received shortly after the murder.
Washington State Patrol located Damian Eiffert later that same day behind the wheel of his father's disabled vehicle on Interstate 90 near Cheney. 'Eiffert was uncooperative with WSP and stated he had a gun on his person, while reaching for his waistband area,' according to an SPD release. County negotiators attempted to facilitate his surrender as he remained combative, making threats that someone from law enforcement would die.
He was observed getting in and out of his vehicle 'with items in his hands' before fleeing on foot and being detained a short distance away.
Damian Eiffert pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Spokane County Superior Court Judge Karen McCall sentenced him Thursday to 21 years in prison—a term falling on the low end of the standard sentencing range, though prosecutors had indicated he faced nearly 30 years under state guidelines given his extensive criminal history.
Key Takeaways
- Damian Eiffert, 40, was sentenced to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in Washington state
- He fatally stabbed his father Robert 'Boby' Eiffert, 61, with a steak knife while the victim sat in a recliner at their East Spokane residence
- After the killing, Damian jumped over his dying father's body and fled in the victim's car before being apprehended later that day on Interstate 90
- He confessed to his ex-girlfriend via phone call: 'I love you … I'm done. … I just killed my dad'
- Investigators say he was high on methamphetamine and experiencing opioid withdrawal at the time of the slaying
- Damian Eiffert had accumulated nearly a dozen felony convictions before this homicide
What's Next
Eiffert will serve his sentence through the Washington State Department of Corrections. No additional court proceedings are anticipated in connection with Robert Eiffert's death, though the case remains part of Spokane County Superior Court records.
The investigation was conducted by the Spokane Police Department with assistance from Washington State Patrol.