Introduction
On a November afternoon, 14-year-old Kathy Devine, unhappy with her life, decided to run away from her Seattle home. She was last seen accepting a ride from a man in a pickup truck.
Disappearance and Initial Search
Kathy’s friends, who witnessed her getting into the truck, informed her family a few hours later. Her father, Bill Devine, reported her missing to the police. Despite his efforts and the involvement of friends and family, there was no word from Kathy for days, heightening fears about her safety.
Discovery of the Body
On December 6th, Barbara Saling, while cleaning litter in a wooded area, discovered what <a href="she initially thought was a mannequin. Upon closer inspection, <a href="she realized it was a human body and reported it to the police. The body was identified as Kathy Devine, found face down with severe injuries indicating sexual assault and physical mutilation.
Investigation and Evidence Collection
Detectives from Thurston County processed the crime scene, noting a rope, pieces of a chain link bracelet, a tire track, and a shoe print. The medical examiner could not determine the exact cause of death due to decomposition but confirmed evidence of sexual assault, including semen collected from the body. Identifying the victim was crucial, leading to her being named through a sketch and jewelry shown on local news.
Initial Suspicions and Cold Case Status
Friends provided a vague description of the truck but no details about the driver. The investigation stalled due to lack of leads, and the case went cold. Detective Paul Barclift later reviewed reports from the time of Kathy’s death, finding one involving a truck fire owned by William Cosden, Jr., a man with a violent past.
Suspect: William Cosden, Jr.
William Cosden, Jr. had a history of violent crime, including a rape and murder charge in 1967. Tips and his suspicious behavior, such as having blood on his clothes the day his truck burned, made him a suspect. Despite these leads, the lack of physical evidence stalled the investigation further.
Breakthrough and Arrest
In 2001, forensic scientist Jeremy Sanderson developed a DNA profile from the semen collected at the crime scene. A match to William Cosden was found, providing critical evidence. Cold case detectives confronted Cosden with the DNA evidence, but he denied involvement. Further witness testimonies linked him to the crime scene, particularly a description matching Kathy’s missing shoe.
Conviction
On March 8th, 2002, William Cosden was charged with Kathy Devine’s rape and murder. In July, he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, bringing closure to a long-standing cold case.
Conclusion
The tragic case of Kathy Devine highlights the enduring efforts of detectives to solve cold cases, using advancements in forensic science and persistent investigative work to bring justice to victims and their families.
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