DNA allegedly links Everett man in 1968, 1972 killings
Published 11:50 pm Friday, February 26, 2010
EVERETT — DNA evidence helped connect two decades-old killings to an Everett man. The 73-year-old was arrested Thursday for investigation of murder.
Seattle police uncovered the connection to the deaths, one from 1968 and the other from 1972, after cold-case detectives sent aging evidence to the state’s crime lab for analysis, according to court papers filed Friday in King County.
The DNA pointed to Samuel Pietro Evans, police say.
Everett police provided assistance to Seattle detectives in the investigation and were present at the arrest Thursday evening in the 2600 block of Lombard Avenue, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.
Even though the suspect is older and infirm, he’s still a dangerous man, Seattle police said.
A judge on Friday determined there was probable cause to keep Evans behind bars in connection with the 1972 killing, said Dan Donohoe, a spokesman for the King County prosecutor’s office. A bail hearing was scheduled for today.
Court papers allege Evans’ DNA links him to the June 6, 1968, killing of James Keuler and the Jan. 9, 1972, killing of Jackson Schley and the rape of his wife. Both crimes took place in Seattle.
The suspect also is being investigated in the slaying of a woman in the early 1970s in Pasco.
It wasn’t immediately clear how long Evans has lived in Everett. Police don’t believe he’s linked to any Snohomish County cold cases.
Information from the Associated Press was included in this report.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
