Detectives doing right by victim

Families and Friends of Missing Persons and Violent Crime Victims wishes to acknowledge and commend the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office, and in particular, Cold Case Detectives' David Heitzman and Jim Scharf for "doing the right thing" in re-opening the murder case of "Jane Doe" whose body was found in August of 1977. (Friday article, "Detectives hope to ID homicide victim after decades.")

Unlike most cold cases that are opened, where identity of the victim is known, but the perpetrator has not been caught, this case focuses on the victim. The killer, David Martin Roth was convicted of first-degree murder in 1979, served his sentence, and has been released from prison. With DNA and other new technology, it is hoped that the female victim can be identified and her remains returned to her family for proper burial.

This young woman has family and friends who undoubtedly have mourned her disappearance for over 30 years. Their pain is unimaginable. It is our hope "Jane Doe" can be identified, so her family can begin to piece together what happened and no longer wonder each day if their daughter is alive or dead.

Over the 30 years we have worked with the families of missing persons, we have heard the pain in their voices of not knowing the fate of their loved one who is missing because foul play is suspected.

Our organization thanks these hard working detectives who care about the victims and those left behind.

Jenny Wieland
Executive Director
Families and Friends of Missing Persons and Violent Crime Victims
Everett