DNA evidence obtained from discarded chewing gum linked Mitchell Gaff to the 1984 murders of Judith Weaver and Susan Vesey in Everett, Washington. Gaff pleaded guilty in April 2026 and was sentenced the following month to 50 years to life in prison. Investigators are reviewing other unsolved cases because of his history of sexual violence and admissions made during psychological evaluations. Police have not identified additional victims or crimes linked to him since his arrest.
| 1) | DNA evidence reopens two Everett murder investigations |
| 2) | The 1984 killings and the original investigation |
| 3) | A documented history of sexual violence |
| 4) | Release from civil commitment raised concerns |
| 5) | Detectives examine possible additional victims |
DNA evidence reopens two Everett murder investigations
Everett police revived the long-unsolved cases after Detective Susan Logothetti submitted evidence from Weaver’s case for modern DNA testing in November 2023. Investigators obtained a reference sample from Gaff through discarded chewing gum collected during a ruse. The resulting DNA evidence led to his arrest in May 2024 and later connected him to Vesey’s murder as well.
Gaff pleaded guilty to both murders in April 2026. A Snohomish County Superior Court judge sentenced him in May to 50 years to life in prison. Police also said that statements Gaff made about the killings were consistent with evidence collected during the original investigations.
The 1984 killings and the original investigation
Authorities found Judith Weaver bound, sexually assaulted and strangled inside her Everett apartment near Rucker Avenue in June 1984. Investigators determined that her clothing had been cut with a knife and that a fire had been set, apparently in an effort to destroy evidence. The investigation initially focused on Weaver’s fiancé, Bill Richards, who remained a suspect until his death in 1994.
Investigators also found Susan Vesey beaten and bound inside her Everett home on the morning of her 21st birthday. The two cases remained unresolved for about four decades until modern forensic testing and the investigation into Gaff produced evidence linking him to both deaths.
A documented history of sexual violence
Court records describe years of serious sexual and violent offenses. In 1979, a jury convicted Gaff of first-degree burglary and second-degree assault after he bound a woman, struck her with a pistol and repeatedly smashed her head against concrete before she escaped.
While on probation in 1984, Gaff broke into an Everett home and raped two teenage sisters, ages 14 and 16, at knifepoint. He received an exceptional prison sentence, and Washington authorities later sought his civil commitment as a sexually violent predator. During psychological evaluations, he admitted to making obscene calls and committing six rapes, according to court records.
Release from civil commitment raised concerns
By 2005, state evaluators concluded that Gaff no longer required maximum confinement and approved a less restrictive placement. In 2006, he moved from Washington’s Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island to a secure halfway house in Seattle’s SoDo district. The arrangement included GPS monitoring and supervision when he left the facility.
A court dismissed the state’s sexually violent predator petition in September 2018 and unconditionally released Gaff from civil commitment. He later lived in Olympia under the alias “Sam Wise Price.” Forensic psychologist Katherine Ramsland, who was not involved in the case, said that failing to act on a predator’s admissions can create risks if the person believes there will be no consequences.
“It’s tricky to hold them beyond their sentence, and sometimes it means having to prove they’re an imminent danger, not just a possible one,” Ramsland said.
Detectives examine possible additional victims
Everett police are reviewing unsolved homicides, sexual assaults and other cold cases in Washington and elsewhere for possible connections to Gaff. Logothetti said investigators believe there may be additional victims, partly because Gaff told evaluators that he sometimes changed details in his accounts without revealing too much.
Despite comparisons between those disclosures and unsolved cases, police have not identified further victims or crimes linked to Gaff since his 2024 arrest or his 2026 guilty pleas. Anyone with information about possible victims connected to him is asked to contact the Everett Police Department tip line at 425-257-8450. Gaff’s defense attorney, Heather Wolfenbarger, declined to comment.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | DNA from chewing gum linked Gaff to two Everett murders. |
| 2 | He pleaded guilty in April 2026 and received 50 years to life. |
| 3 | Court records document prior violent and sexual offenses. |
| 4 | Police are reviewing other unsolved cases for possible links. |
Summary
The convictions resolved two Everett murder cases that had remained open for decades, using DNA evidence obtained through a discarded piece of chewing gum. Gaff’s documented history and prior admissions have prompted investigators to examine whether he was responsible for additional crimes. That review remains ongoing, and authorities have not announced any further confirmed victims.
Frequently Asked Questions
How was Mitchell Gaff linked to the murders?
Investigators obtained DNA from discarded chewing gum and compared it with evidence from the murder investigations. The testing linked Gaff to the cases.
When was Gaff sentenced?
Gaff pleaded guilty in April 2026 and was sentenced in May 2026 to 50 years to life in prison.
Are investigators aware of additional victims?
Police are reviewing other unsolved cases, but they have not identified additional victims or crimes linked to Gaff since his arrest and guilty pleas.
