Cold Case: DNA hasn't closed case in '90 slaying

MARYSVILLE -- Detectives figured she was probably killed by someone she knew.

Veronica "Roni" Nelson, 41, was found raped and stabbed to death inside her Marysville home. A year later investigators took genetic samples from a relative to compare with evidence collected at Nelson's home.

The man, a soldier stationed at Fort Lewis, was never arrested. A few years later he was dead. Police believe the man shot his girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself.

The investigation into Nelson's 1990 slaying remains open. She is featured on the ten of diamonds in the state's first deck of cold-case playing cards. Detectives are hoping to solicit new leads to help find answers in the case.

The cards have been handed out in the state's prisons and jails. Inmates are being offered a reward for valuable tips. A similar program has helped detectives in Florida solve a handful of cold cases there.

Nelson's body was discovered by a Boeing co-worker who became concerned when the Marysville woman didn't show up for work. A part of Nelson's Boeing identification card later turned up in a south Tacoma-area neighborhood.

Detectives believed a relative of Nelson's was the last-known person to have been in her home before she was found.

A year later, in court documents, investigators said the man was a suspect in the slaying. They obtained a search warrant to collect samples of the man's blood, saliva and hair. He'd recently returned from duty in the Gulf War.

Snohomish County sheriff's detective Dave Heitzman recently declined to discuss the outcome of those tests. He said detectives still want to hear from anyone who might have information about Nelson's killing.

"In light of a review of the evidence, it's possible someone else was involved, Heitzman said.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.