Elusive murder suspect falls victim to detectives' chewing gum sting

Detectives with the Everett Police Department in Washington have linked a 1984 cold case homicide and sexual assault to Mitchell Allen Gaff following recent advancements in forensic DNA technology, according to reporting from CBS News Crime.

The investigation centers on the June 1, 1984, murder of 42-year-old Judy Weaver in Everett, Washington. Gaff, a registered Level 3 sex offender who currently goes by the name Sam Wise Price and is in his 60s, was identified through modern DNA matching techniques after decades of remaining undetected in connection with the homicide.

Incident Overview

On the evening of June 1, 1984, Judy Weaver, a bar manager and mother, was celebrating the sale of the Bel-Nes Cafe on Hewitt Avenue in Everett, Washington. According to investigators, Weaver became intoxicated during the celebration and decided to walk home to her apartment approximately half a mile away rather than waiting for a taxicab or driving. Authorities believe the assailant followed Weaver as she walked along the darkened streets and entered her residence through an unlocked back door.

Once inside, the perpetrator attacked Weaver. Neighbors subsequently reported smoke coming from the apartment about an hour after Weaver returned home. Responding firefighters forced entry into the residence and discovered Weaver deceased inside a smoldering, smoke-filled bedroom. Investigators determined that Weaver had been bound, sexually assaulted, and strangled. Physical evidence indicated that the suspect intentionally started a fire in the bedroom using surrounding materials in an attempt to destroy physical evidence and conceal the crime scene.

Timeline of Events

1. June 1, 1984: Judy Weaver is sexually assaulted, bound, and strangled inside her Everett, Washington apartment. A fire is set inside her bedroom shortly after the attack.
2. August 1984: Two teenage sisters are assaulted and bound in their residence by Mitchell Allen Gaff before one victim escapes to alert neighbors.
3. September 1984: Mitchell Allen Gaff is arrested in connection with the August 1984 violent assault, subsequently serving prison time and long-term civil confinement.
4. 1994: Bill Richards, Weaver's former fiance and initial prime suspect, passes away without charges being filed against him.
5. 2018: Mitchell Allen Gaff is released from civil confinement after serving 23 years in state custody and therapeutic confinement, later changing his name to Sam Wise Price.
6. January 2023: Everett Police Department Cold Case Detective Susan Logothetti resubmits physical evidence from the Weaver crime scene for modern DNA analysis.
7. 2023-2024: Forensic DNA testing yields a direct match to Mitchell Allen Gaff, prompting law enforcement to execute a sting operation utilizing chewing gum to collect a confirmation DNA profile.

Suspect Information

The suspect identified by DNA analysis is Mitchell Allen Gaff, who currently uses the legal alias Sam Wise Price. Gaff is currently in his 60s and is classified by Washington state law enforcement as a Level 3 registered sex offender, a designation reserved for individuals evaluated as presenting the highest risk of reoffending within the community. According to official records, Gaff was previously convicted of assault with a deadly weapon stemming from a violent attack against an off-duty police officer, as well as an aggravated rape conviction resulting from an August 1984 incident involving two teenage victims. Following a 10-year prison term, Gaff was placed in indefinite civil commitment at McNeil Island in Washington as a sexually violent predator before his conditional release in 2018.

Victim Information

The primary victim in the cold case investigation is Judy Weaver, who was 42 years old at the time of her death in June 1984. Weaver was a mother of two daughters, Cathy Myers and Colleen Kayser, and managed the Bel-Nes Cafe, a well-known establishment on Hewitt Avenue in Everett. Historical case files also detail prior surviving victims of Gaff, including off-duty police officer Jackie Brown, who fought off an armed attack in her garage, and two sisters, Angela and Myra, who survived a home invasion and assault in August 1984.

Police Response

Firefighters and emergency response personnel initially arrived at Judy Weaver's apartment complex after a neighbor reported heavy black smoke billowing from the unit. Fire crews entered the structure, cleared the thick smoke inside the sealed bedroom, and discovered Weaver's body bound on the bed. Everett Police Department patrol officers and homicide detectives immediately established a crime scene perimeter, called in forensic technicians, and launched a comprehensive death investigation into what was quickly classified as an aggravated homicide and arson.

Investigation

The investigation was initially conducted by the Everett Police Department in 1984, with initial suspicion focusing heavily on Weaver's fiance, Bill Richards. Although Richards was questioned extensively, investigators lacked sufficient physical evidence to establish probable cause for an arrest or to completely clear him before his death in 1994. In January 2023, Everett Police Department Cold Case Detective Susan Logothetti reassessed the cold case file and submitted preserved physical evidence to a forensic laboratory to utilize modern STR (Short Tandem Repeat) and advanced touch-DNA profiling methods. The testing generated an unexpected hit in state and national offender databases matching Mitchell Allen Gaff.

Evidence Collected

Investigators collected and preserved multiple physical items from the 1984 crime scene and subsequent operations, including:

• A stained pillowcase recovered adjacent to the victim's body containing blood evidence and touch DNA.
• Articles of the victim's clothing that had been systematically cut with a sharp instrument or knife.
• Binding materials and ligatures utilized during the commission of the assault.
• Discarded chewing gum obtained by undercover cold case detectives to extract a fresh, verifiable biological DNA sample from the suspect.

Arrest Details

While Mitchell Allen Gaff was previously arrested and taken into custody in September 1984 for unrelated violent offenses, cold case detectives in the Weaver homicide devised a covert sting operation to obtain a fresh biological sample. Detectives discreetly monitored Gaff, now living under the name Sam Wise Price, to collect discarded chewing gum, enabling forensic scientists to execute a direct DNA comparison against crime scene biological evidence prior to formal charging determinations.

Charges Filed

While specific formal charges in the cold case filing remain subject to finalized prosecutorial review upon completion of biological confirmation, offenses of this nature in Washington state typically fall under severe statutory classifications. A plain English overview of applicable statutory charges in historical homicide investigations includes:

• First-Degree Murder: Under Washington state law, first-degree murder involves intentionally causing the death of another person with premeditated intent, or causing death while committing or attempting to commit a felony such as rape, burglary, or arson. First-degree murder is a Class A felony, carrying a statutory penalty of up to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or a substantial sentence within state correctional facilities under sentencing guidelines.
• First-Degree Rape / Aggravated Sexual Assault: This charge applies when an individual engages in sexual intercourse with another person by forcible compulsion accompanied by the use or threat of a deadly weapon, kidnapping, or the infliction of serious physical injury. First-degree rape is a Class A felony punishable by up to life imprisonment and mandatory sex offender registration upon conviction.
• First-Degree Arson: First-degree arson occurs when a person knowingly and maliciously causes a fire or explosion that damages a dwelling or endangers human life. In Washington, first-degree arson is classified as a Class A felony, exposing a convicted defendant to multi-year prison sentences and substantial financial restitution penalties.

Court Information

Formal judicial proceedings for cold case homicides in Washington state are handled within the Superior Court jurisdiction of the county where the offense occurred. When cold case DNA evidence links a suspect to an unsolved homicide, prosecutors present the investigative findings, DNA matching reports, and chain of custody documentation to a grand jury or file an information directly in Superior Court to secure a felony arrest warrant. Once a defendant is taken into custody on a warrant, an initial appearance and formal arraignment are scheduled within 24 to 48 hours. During arraignment, the court formally reads the felony indictment or information, addresses legal representation, and conducts a bail hearing to determine detention conditions pending trial. If a case proceeds, preliminary hearings, omnibus evidentiary motions, and pre-trial hearings are conducted to resolve the admissibility of forensic DNA methods and historical physical evidence.

Statements from Authorities

Speaking regarding the dedication required to pursue long-unsolved crimes, Everett Police Department Cold Case Detective Susan Logothetti emphasized the ongoing commitment of modern forensic units. "I love that people who thought they could get away with it 40 years ago are looking over their shoulder now, wondering what they left behind," Logothetti stated during an interview detailing cold case operations.

Public Safety Information

Law enforcement authorities encourage anyone with information regarding historical cold cases, unsolved violent crimes, or potential victims to contact local law enforcement agencies or call 911 in an emergency. Individuals who have experienced sexual assault or domestic violence can access free, confidential support 24 hours a day by contacting the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or calling 988 for crisis support services.

What Happens Next

Following the collection of confirmatory DNA evidence via the chewing gum sting operation, prosecutors and homicide detectives will complete a comprehensive charging packet for presentation to judicial authorities. If a formal arrest warrant is issued, law enforcement officers will take the suspect into custody. The defendant will then undergo formal booking, an initial court appearance, and an arraignment where a plea will be entered. Pre-trial proceedings will involve evidentiary discovery, defense challenges to DNA admissibility, and scheduling of trial dates in Washington State Superior Court.