VERIFIED — Notary John S. Hicks, WA commission #194569

Source: WA Dept. of Licensing License Lookup (https://professions.dol.wa.gov/s/license-lookup), captured 2026-08-15 (user cleared reCAPTCHA). Screenshot: NOTARY_Hicks_194569.png; raw text: NOTARY_Hicks_194569_result.txt.

Result (official record)

What this means (and what it does NOT mean)

• The commission number 194569 matches the name John S Hicks and is a real, currently ACTIVE Washington notary in Seattle with no disciplinary history. This is the same name that appears on all three fraudulent quitclaim deeds and the supporting notices/declarations.
• This is therefore NOT a "fake/forged notary" situation — an important correction to the earlier "unverified" note. Do not allege the notary is fictitious; the record shows otherwise.
• It DOES give investigators a real, identifiable, accountable third party who notarized the fraudulent instruments. That is valuable because:
• If Hicks properly performed the notarizations, then Shroyer, Schermer, and Ingalls personally appeared before him and presented ID — corroborating that the named individuals executed the deeds (helps prove identity/intent).
• WA notaries must keep a journal (RCW 42.45 / WAC 308-30) recording each notarization (date, document, signer ID, signature). Det. Bo Miller can request/subpoena Hicks's journal entries for these dates — a strong evidentiary thread (who appeared, what ID was shown).
• If Hicks did not properly verify identity, or the acknowledgments are defective, that is a notarial-misconduct matter the DOL and the detective can pursue (RCW 42.45.150 / .160) — separate from the deed fraud itself.

Timing note for investigators (from the deed images)

• The deeds were notarized Feb–May 2025. The seal OCR'd as expiration "9-01-25" (one page mis-OCR'd "2/26/25"). The commission shows ACTIVE as of 2026, which means it was either renewed or the commission period differs from the OCR'd seal date — Det. Miller should confirm the exact commission dates and whether a valid commission was in force on each notarization date (02/24/2025, 02/27/2025, 04/01/2025, 04/02/2025, 05/02/2025).

Recommended follow-up (authorities / attorney)

1. Ask Det. Miller to obtain Hicks's notary journal entries for the five notarization dates.
2. Confirm the exact commission effective/expiration dates with DOL (was a valid commission in force on each date?).
3. Interview Hicks: did the three grantors physically appear and present ID? This directly bears on identity, intent, and whether the notarizations were proper.