GUILTY WA - Michella Welch, 12, murdered, Tacoma, 26 March 1986 *arrest in 2018*

So Michella's killer was identified using essentially the same methods as the Golden State Killer case: they uploaded the sequenced DNA (via Parabon Nanolabs) into a public database (almost definitely GEDMatch) came up with two brothers as matches and followed the perp to a restaurant, took a napkin he used and confirmed that he was the guy. They were able to hire a forensic genealogist and use a lab because of a national grant they got because Tacoma PD is apparently very successful at solving recent homicides.

Arraignment will be on Monday.
 
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I see a LOT of LE doing this "new" sequencing DNA vis Parabon Nanolabs! It's great! We have seen a lot of cold cases being solved.

edited to add: thank you leilarose for next court date!
 
This is just amazing, both of these cold cases solved within two months of one another. It's so wonderful that these cold case teams are able to (hopefully) deliver justice to the murderers at long last, and also some closure for the families.

My family moved to Tacoma's north end a few years after this happened, we lived one block from Puget Creek Park and my sister and I never went down into the ravine alone because we knew what had happened to the girl who would have been the same age we were had she lived.
 
Are there other cold cases in the South Sound region that may be linked to Gary Charles Hartman, I wonder. Perhaps with time we'll find out his whereabouts before 1986 (he was already 34 when Michella was killed so she may not have been his first victim) and also between 1986 and the typical time killers "age out" of raping and killing (age 50?).
 
Are there other cold cases in the South Sound region that may be linked to Gary Charles Hartman, I wonder. Perhaps with time we'll find out his whereabouts before 1986 (he was already 34 when Michella was killed so she may not have been his first victim) and also between 1986 and the typical time killers "age out" of raping and killing (age 50?).
He does look like an older version of his DNA mugshot.
I wonder when we'll see a younger photo of him.
 
Monday, June 25th:
*Arraignment Hearing (@ 1:30pm) – WA – Michella Welch (12) (Mar. 26, 1986) – Gary Charles Hartman (66/34 @ time of crime) charged (6/21/18) with 1st degree murder & 1st degree rape. Plead not guilty. $5M bond.
 
congratulations michelle
this dna advancement is damn well marvellous
yet another clean skin with zero criminal record who would have otherwise beaten the system.
*typo sorry!
meant obviously michella not michelle
 
Update:

Date Judge Dept Type Outcome
06/25/2018 01:30 PM CRIMINAL DIVISION 2 CD2 ARRAIGNMENT ARRAIGNED
07/10/2018 08:30 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION 2 CD2 RETURN WITH ATTY
07/26/2018 08:45 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION- PRESIDING JUDGE CDPJ OMNIBUS HEARING
08/13/2018 08:30 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION- PRESIDING JUDGE CDPJ JURY TRIAL

link: Pierce County Superior Court Criminal Case 18-1-02411-2


seems pretty quick for a trial already starting in August!!
 
Update:

Date Judge Dept Type Outcome
06/25/2018 01:30 PM CRIMINAL DIVISION 2 CD2 ARRAIGNMENT ARRAIGNED
07/10/2018 08:30 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION 2 CD2 RETURN WITH ATTY
07/26/2018 08:45 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION- PRESIDING JUDGE CDPJ OMNIBUS HEARING
08/13/2018 08:30 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION- PRESIDING JUDGE CDPJ JURY TRIAL

link: Pierce County Superior Court Criminal Case 18-1-02411-2


seems pretty quick for a trial already starting in August!!
It does seem quick,but gary has been keeping this family waiting long enough
 
Tuesday, July 10th:
*Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) – WA – Michella Welch (12) (Mar. 26, 1986) – Gary Charles Hartman (66/34 @ time of crime) arrested (6/20/18) & charged (6/21/18) with 1st degree murder & 1st degree rape. Plead not guilty. $5M bond. GEDMatch DNA.
6/26/18 Update: Next hearing 7/10 with an attorney, Omnibus hearing (Pretrial) on 7/26 & Jury trial set for 8/13.
 
Update in red from Tuesday's hearing:

*Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) – WA – Michella Welch (12) (Mar. 26, 1986) – Gary Charles Hartman (66/34 @ time of crime) arrested (6/20/18) & charged (6/21/18) with 1st degree murder & 1st degree rape. Plead not guilty. $5M bond. GEDMatch DNA.
6/26/18 Update: Next hearing 7/10 with an attorney, Omnibus hearing (Pretrial) on 7/26 & Jury trial set for 8/13.

7/13/18 Update: Return on 7/24 with attorney. Other hearing dates stand.
 
Tuesday, July 24th:
*Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) – WA – Michella Welch (12) (Mar. 26, 1986) – Gary Charles Hartman (66/34 @ time of crime) arrested (6/20/18) & charged (6/21/18) with 1st degree murder & 1st degree rape, amended (6/25/18) to 2 counts of 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $5M bond. GEDMatch DNA.
6/26/18 Update: Omnibus hearing (Pretrial) on 7/26 & Jury trial set for 8/13.
7/13/18 Update: Return on 7/24 with attorney. Other hearing dates stand.
 
Looks like yesterday's hearing (7/24) was continued. And the hearing tomorrow (7/26) was continued to 7/31. Trial still on for 8/13 for now!

07/24/2018
08:30 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION 2 CD2 RETURN WITH ATTY CONTINUED

07/26/2018 08:45 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION- PRESIDING JUDGE CDPJ OMNIBUS HEARING CONTINUED

07/31/2018 08:30 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION- PRESIDING JUDGE CDPJ RETURN WITH ATTY
07/31/2018 08:30 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION- PRESIDING JUDGE CDPJ CONTINUANCE
07/31/2018 08:45 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION- PRESIDING JUDGE CDPJ OMNIBUS HEARING

08/13/2018 08:30 AM CRIMINAL DIVISION- PRESIDING JUDGE CDPJ JURY TRIAL

court link: Pierce County Superior Court Criminal Case 18-1-02411-2
 
Thursday, July 26th:
*Pretrial Hearing –Hearing cont’d to 7/31 (@ 8:45am PT) – WA – Michella Welch (12) (Mar. 26, 1986) – Gary Charles Hartman (66/34 @ time of crime) arrested (6/20/18) & charged (6/21/18) with 1st degree murder & 1st degree rape, amended (6/25/18) to 2 counts of 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $5M bond. GED/Match DNA.
6/26/18 Update: Next Omnibus hearing (Pretrial) on 7/26 & Jury trial set for 8/13.
7/13/18 Update: Return on 7/24 with attorney. Other hearing dates stand.

7/24/18 Update: Hearing (7/24) is continued, as is July 26th hearing to July 31st
.
 
Tuesday, July 31st:
*Omnibus (Pretrial) Hearing (@ 8:30am PT) – WA – Michella Welch (12) (Mar. 26, 1986) – Gary Charles Hartman (66/34 @ time of crime) arrested (6/20/18) & charged (6/21/18) with 1st degree murder & 1st degree rape, amended (6/25/18) to 2 counts of 1st degree murder. Plead not guilty. $5M bond. GED/Match DNA. 6/26/18 Update: Omnibus hearing (Pretrial) on 7/26 & Jury trial set for 8/13.
7/13/18 Update: Return on 7/24 with attorney. Other hearing dates stand.
7/24/18 Update: Hearing is continued, as is July 26th hearing to July 31st.
 

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