Caleb Hutton

A school photo of Gary Lee Haynie as a child, left, courtesy of his cousin Hal Thayne. Artist Natalie Murry's drawing based on Haynie's remains, right, courtesy of Snohomish County Medical Examiner's Office. Haynie was identified as The Spencer Island John, a man who's body was found north of Everett in January 1979.

‘Relief and closure’ for family of Spencer Island John Doe from 1979

Gary Lee Haynie was identified through forensic genealogy. How he ended up dead in Snohomish River mudflats remains a mystery.

 

Jay Cook (left) and Tanya Van Cuylenborg of Vancouver Island were found slain in Washington in 1987.

High court reinstates guilty verdicts in 1987 murders of Canadian couple

The state Supreme Court announced a 9-0 ruling on alleged juror bias Thursday in the double murder case against William Talbott.

 

(Dutton)

Pulitzer winner’s new book digs into Snohomish County cold case killings

The Everett library will host a talk with Edward Humes on “The Forever Witness,” about a double murder and pioneering DNA evidence.

 

THUMBNAIL

42 years later, authorities unmask identity of ‘Stilly Doe’

Advances in DNA technology, paired with forensic genealogy research, helped identify Othaniel Philip Ames, 82, a dairy farmer.

THUMBNAIL
Michelle Koski (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)

Genealogy helps crack 1990 Snohomish County homicide of Seattle teen

Michelle Koski was 17. Her body was recovered near Maltby. A Seattle neighbor was identified as the suspect Thursday.

Michelle Koski (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
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A brief timeline of Pacific Northwest boarding schools

The Tulalip Indian School had roots as a Catholic mission founded in 1857. Its history is intertwined with the Tulalip Reservation.

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Detective Jim Scharf, left, of Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office with David Mittelman, CEO of Othram Inc. announces the identification on two cold cases Thursday afternoon in the Snohomish County Courthouse in Everett, Washington on June 16, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Forensic genealogy cracks Snohomish County cold cases from 1977, 1981

Alice Williams’ skull was found in woods near Skykomish. Blaine Has Tricks’ remains were crushed in a Tulalip landfill.

Detective Jim Scharf, left, of Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office with David Mittelman, CEO of Othram Inc. announces the identification on two cold cases Thursday afternoon in the Snohomish County Courthouse in Everett, Washington on June 16, 2022. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
William Talbott II pleads his innocence before a judge sentences him to life with out parole at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 in Everett, Wash. A Snohomish County judge sentenced William Talbott II to life in prison without parole, for murdering a young Canadian couple in 1987. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

1987 slaying of Canadian couple heads to state Supreme Court

Justices granted a motion Wednesday to review William Talbott’s overturned conviction in a landmark forensic genealogy case.

William Talbott II pleads his innocence before a judge sentences him to life with out parole at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 in Everett, Wash. A Snohomish County judge sentenced William Talbott II to life in prison without parole, for murdering a young Canadian couple in 1987. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Rick Thurmer's completed his life-long goal of summiting the seven highest summits on seven continents.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Mukilteo climber who summited peaks worldwide dies in Cascades

Dr. Richard Thurmer had gone solo hiking over the weekend on Dragontail Peak. His body was recovered from the snow Thursday.

Rick Thurmer's completed his life-long goal of summiting the seven highest summits on seven continents.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Ronald David Chambers, 1980 "Stanwood Bryant" John Doe. (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office) 20220304

1978 murder mystery solved in Snohomish County with DNA, genealogy

He was a John Doe for 41 years. Detectives believe a hitman killed Ron Chambers and left his body east of Stanwood in 1978.

Ronald David Chambers, 1980 "Stanwood Bryant" John Doe. (Snohomish County Sheriff's Office) 20220304
William Talbott II pleads his innocence before a judge sentences him to life with out parole at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 in Everett, Wash. A Snohomish County judge sentenced William Talbott II to life in prison without parole, for murdering a young Canadian couple in 1987. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Cold-case murder conviction reversed due to juror’s bias

William Talbott, the world’s first convicted forensic genealogy defendant, was accused of killing a young Canadian couple in 1987.

William Talbott II pleads his innocence before a judge sentences him to life with out parole at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Wednesday, July 24, 2019 in Everett, Wash. A Snohomish County judge sentenced William Talbott II to life in prison without parole, for murdering a young Canadian couple in 1987. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Jason Dominguez (left). (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)

Jury finds former Monroe prison guard guilty of child rape

Jason Dominguez, a former Girl Scouts volunteer, did not testify. A jury needed less than three hours to convict him.

Jason Dominguez (left). (Caleb Hutton / The Herald)
Mark Bond, a retired Snohomish County sheriff's deputy, looks over evidence with deputy prosecutor prosecuting Martina Wong, right, Friday morning during the trial of Jason Dominguez at the Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett on October 1, 2021.   (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Prison guard, Gold Bar PTO president on trial for child rape

Jason Dominguez has been in jail since October 2019. A girl accusing him of rape took the witness stand Friday.

Mark Bond, a retired Snohomish County sheriff's deputy, looks over evidence with deputy prosecutor prosecuting Martina Wong, right, Friday morning during the trial of Jason Dominguez at the Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett on October 1, 2021.   (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Capt. Kate Songhurst demonstrates proper CPR during the PulsePoint launch press briefing Tuesday morning at Kasch Park in Everett on September 14, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Having a heart attack? New app will alert nearby CPR givers

Ambulances can only drive so fast. PulsePoint alerts nearby trained citizens when there’s a medical emergency.

Capt. Kate Songhurst demonstrates proper CPR during the PulsePoint launch press briefing Tuesday morning at Kasch Park in Everett on September 14, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
South County firefighters spray water into a business with fire damage at Plum Tree Plaza off of Highway 99 on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 in Edmonds, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

3-alarm fire burns Edmonds strip mall; no one hurt

Flames, smoke and water damaged “pretty much every business” in an L-shaped plaza Saturday morning.

South County firefighters spray water into a business with fire damage at Plum Tree Plaza off of Highway 99 on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 in Edmonds, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Steven Knox grew up with four brothers and a sister in Wisconsin. (Family photo.)

Solved: After 41 years, Air Force vet’s name restored by DNA

Steven Knox, a bright young man with a knack for languages, vanished in 1980 in Everett. Now, his family knows his fate.

Steven Knox grew up with four brothers and a sister in Wisconsin. (Family photo.)
Detective Dave Bilyeu of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office leaves the grave site of a John Doe near Mill Creek on July 20, 2021. The remains were found in September 2020, by a homeless man living in the greenbelt.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Who Am I? Mill Creek mystery man was buried in shallow grave

A man digging a hole for trash uncovered his bones in 2020. Detectives need help to find his name — and his killer.

Detective Dave Bilyeu of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office leaves the grave site of a John Doe near Mill Creek on July 20, 2021. The remains were found in September 2020, by a homeless man living in the greenbelt.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Allison Smith (left to right), Jamie Gonzales and Jodie Aney listen during the sentencing of Jeremy Pidgeon in Snohomish County District Court in Monroe on June 23, 2021.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Outside the ring, survivors say Snohomish coach abused them

When MMA gym owner Jeremy Pidgeon was arrested, it unmasked decades of domestic violence, three women say.

Allison Smith (left to right), Jamie Gonzales and Jodie Aney listen during the sentencing of Jeremy Pidgeon in Snohomish County District Court in Monroe on June 23, 2021.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

21 women accuse Snohomish chiropractor of sexual touching

Dr. Kenneth Parker kept seeing and abusing patients with a suspended license, charging papers say.

Suspect arrested in 2017 Everett shooting over $5 in gas

The wanted man was caught in California. He was booked Tuesday into the Snohomish County Jail.