Everett cold case: Detective cracks 1984 murder with DNA gum evidence

A decades-old mystery

For Detective Susan Logothetti of the Everett Police Department, some cases just won't stay buried. She’s been haunted by the 1984 murder of Judy Weaver, a 42-year-old bar manager and mother. Weaver was a local character—a former beauty queen known for working the rough crowds at the Bel-Nes Cafe with a firm hand.

On the night of June 1, 1984, Weaver was celebrating the sale of her bar before walking the half-mile home. Tragically, someone followed her. She was found in her apartment, tied up, in a room filled with black smoke after a fire was set to destroy the evidence. Her clothes had been cut with surgical precision, leading detectives to believe the killer took their time. It was giving major monster energy, and for forty years, the case went nowhere.

The prime suspect who wasn't

For a long time, all fingers pointed to Weaver’s fiancé, Bill Richards. Her daughters, Cathy Myers and Colleen Kayser, never liked him and reported he was often abusive. Richards remained the prime suspect until he passed away in 1994, but the case never officially closed.

The DNA breakthrough

In January 2023, the department decided to run the old evidence through modern DNA technology, fully expecting to confirm Richards’ guilt. But the plot thickens—the DNA didn't match him at all. Instead, it linked to Mitchell Allen Gaff, a known Level 3 sex offender with a history of violent attacks.

One of his previous victims, a police officer named Jackie Brown, recalled a terrifying 1980s encounter where Gaff held her at gunpoint in her own garage. Brown survived the assault by keeping her cool, and her story became a chilling reminder of the suspect's pattern. Now, the case that sat cold for so long is finally seeing a resolution, proving that even after decades, the truth has a way of coming out.

Why it matters

This case is a total W for forensic science and shows why cold case units are so vital. It’s a reminder that even if a trail goes cold, new tech can breathe life into a case and finally bring some closure to families who have been waiting 40 years for justice.