GUILTY WA - Jody Loomis, 20, Mill Creek, raped/shot, 23 August 1972, *Arrest in 2019 DNA*

[dotr]

April 11, 2019

Left: Terrance Miller. Photo is believed to have been taken around the time of Jody Loomis' murder. Right: Victim Jody Loomis. (KIRO 7)

https://mynorthwest.com/1342662/mill-creek-cold-case-murder-arrest-1972/
"On August 23, 1972, Loomis, 20, was riding a bicycle from her Mill Creek-area home on Winesap Road to a pasture where her horse was boarded, but never made it to the field.

Detectives said later that day, two people found Loomis near death in a heavily wooded area east of the Bothell-Everett Highway, in what is now Mill Creek. She died on the way to the hospital.

Police said Loomis, who was found wearing only panties, socks and “waffle stomper” boots, was sexually assaulted and shot in the head.

In January 2008, the sheriff’s office cold case unit sent a number of items to the Washington State Patrol crime lab for testing. Among those items were the boots Loomis had been wearing when she was murdered. The lab found sperm on one of her boots and a partial DNA profile was developed.

Eventually, Miller was identified as a suspect with the help of a lab and a genetic genealogist.


Authorities said the DNA data taken from crime scene evidence was uploaded to GEDmatch, a public genetic genealogy website, and several promising matches were found for a few of the suspect’s family members."

 

[dotr]

 

[DSCrime]

How DNA on coffee cup led to arrest in 1972 rape, murder of woman: Officials

"Genealogists concluded in August that the unknown DNA profile belonged to one of six brothers. Police zeroed in on one of them, Terrence Miller, who had prior sex offenses, the probable cause affidavit said.

On Aug. 29, 2018, investigators followed Miller to a casino and recovered a coffee cup he threw into the trash; tests later confirmed the DNA on the coffee cup matched the DNA from the sperm on the victim's boot, the probable cause affidavit said.

In November, two undercover detectives went to Millers' home in Edmonds, Washington, where Miller and his wife run a ceramic shop out of their garage, said the probable cause affidavit.

....

Miller is a lifelong resident of Snohomish County. Before the crime, he had been divorced twice and had three daughters, according to documents.

At the time of the crime, Miller was 33 years old and living with his third wife, who has since died, according to documents. He also had two daughters with his third wife.

His current wife is his fourth.

....

Miller was arrested at his home on Wednesday and is accused of first-degree murder, according to court documents. He was interviewed on Wednesday but declined to give statements to police, authorities said.

Miller did not know Loomis before the crime, according to authorities."

 

[Grace007]

April 11, 2019

Left: Terrance Miller. Photo is believed to have been taken around the time of Jody Loomis' murder. Right: Victim Jody Loomis. (KIRO 7)

https://mynorthwest.com/1342662/mill-creek-cold-case-murder-arrest-1972/
"On August 23, 1972, Loomis, 20, was riding a bicycle from her Mill Creek-area home on Winesap Road to a pasture where her horse was boarded, but never made it to the field.

Detectives said later that day, two people found Loomis near death in a heavily wooded area east of the Bothell-Everett Highway, in what is now Mill Creek. She died on the way to the hospital.

Police said Loomis, who was found wearing only panties, socks and “waffle stomper” boots, was sexually assaulted and shot in the head.

In January 2008, the sheriff’s office cold case unit sent a number of items to the Washington State Patrol crime lab for testing. Among those items were the boots Loomis had been wearing when she was murdered. The lab found sperm on one of her boots and a partial DNA profile was developed.

Eventually, Miller was identified as a suspect with the help of a lab and a genetic genealogist.


Authorities said the DNA data taken from crime scene evidence was uploaded to GEDmatch, a public genetic genealogy website, and several promising matches were found for a few of the suspect’s family members."

 

[Grace007]

NV NV - Might there have been a serial killer in Las Vegas in the 70s and 80s?
Discussion in 'Serial Killers' started by bgbonzo, Mar 27, 2016.

 

[Grace007]

NV NV - Might there have been a serial killer in Las Vegas in the 70s and 80s?
Discussion in 'Serial Killers' started by bgbonzo, Mar 27, 2016

I would invite you to peruse this blog. One of the victims was my cousin, Susan Perron. Curious to know if the new DNA technology spoke of in Seattle is being used in Vegas as well. Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing? Susan was abducted almost 50 years ago! I hope they can find out who did this to her.

 

[DSCrime]

Grace007: I'm sorry for your family's loss. I will visit the discussion on NV cases that you linked. I hope that LE can provide your family with answers & justice.


In terms of the Jody Loomis case and Washington State:

I wondered if there was a rape kit backlog in Washington, given that the suspect, Miller, reportedly had a history of sexual offenses but was not in the system (which is why he had to be matched w/ genetic genealogy).

The Seattle Times reported in Oct 2018:

Nearly 6,500 rape kits sit untested statewide, Washington attorney general says

"Nearly 6,500 sexual-assault evidence kits — some of them decades old — are currently sitting untested in law-enforcement storage facilities across Washington, according to a new inventory by the state Attorney General’s Office.

The office announced the total number of kits Wednesday after receiving inventories from 208 law-enforcement agencies across the state. The 6,460 kits have not yet been submitted to the state crime lab for testing. The attorney general is now awaiting federal grant money to allow the crime lab to test the kits.

“Each sexual assault kit tells a story from a survivor that must be heard,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a statement.

***

The Washington state Legislature has dedicated new funding toward testing the backlog. Since 2015, 3,300 kits have been submitted to the crime lab using new state funding and 1,700 of those have been tested, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Those kits are in addition to the 6,460 identified by the Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday."


I'm sure that police are now looking hard at Miller for similar crimes in the area. It's heartbreaking to know that thousands of rape kits have gone untested.

 

[Niner]

re the first article posted - post #1:

The article is dated April 11th.
He is due to make his first court appearance Thursday afternoon, officials said.

So he was in court last Thursday, 4/12. And I don't find him in the Washington court site.

Also the article says he is 77 and he committed the crime when he was 33. Either he is NOW 80, or he was 30 when the crime happened. Can't have it both ways....

 

[dotr]

rbbm.
A cold case murder heats up — with an arrest — 47 years later
"Terrence Miller, 77, was arrested Wednesday in the 1972 murder of Jody Loomis, 20, in Washington State.

Loomis, who disappeared on August 23, 1972, was last seen on her bike, traveling “to a pasture where her horse was boarded." She was found on the brink of death that same day by Cathy Lenac, then 18, and her friend "in a heavily wooded area east of ... what is now Mill Creek.”

"Loomis had been left for dead in just undergarments and “waffle stomper” boots. Her injuries included sexual assault and a shot to the head. She died as Lenac was bringing her to the hospital."

Charged with first-degree premeditated murder, Miller is reportedly uncooperative as he’s held on a $1 million bail.

Authorities are currently looking for Loomis’ bridle and trying to determine the vehicle Miller drove at the time of the crime, as well as his place of work.


Those who knew Miller during that time period and potential tipsters are encouraged by authorities to speak out and contact the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office."

 

[musicaljoke]

Hurrah! It's always good news when a cold case gets solved. Justice for Jody is coming soon!

 

[Niner]

Okay - I found him. First name is spelled Terrence! With an e not an a....

04/10/2019 Information

04/10/2019 Affidavit of Probable Cause

04/10/2019 Omnibus Application of Prosecuting Attorne

04/11/2019 Initial Arraignment - continued
Judicial Officer: Lucas, Eric Z
Hearing Time: 1:00 PM

04/11/2019 Court Hearing Minutes
Judicial Officer: Lucas, Eric Z

04/11/2019 Hearing Continued Defense Respondent Requested

04/12/2019 Motion Hearing
Judicial Officer: Kurtz, David A
Hearing Time: 9:00 AM
Comment: regarding defendant's attire / Court confirmed

04/15/2019 Initial Arraignment
Judicial Officer: Larsen, Cindy
Hearing Time: 1:00 PM

link: Odyssey Portal - Washington Courts Online Case Search

 

[Niner]

Monday, April 15th:
*Arraignment Hearing (@ 1pm PT) – WA – Jody Loomis (20) (Aug. 23, 1972, Mill Creek) - *Terrence Miller (77/30 @ time of crime) arrested (4/10/19) & charged (4/12/19) with 1st degree murder. Snohomish County
DNA GEDMatch
4/12/19 Update: Initial Arraignment on 4/11/19 continued to 4/15.

 

[Grace007]

Grace007: I'm sorry for your family's loss. I will visit the discussion on NV cases that you linked. I hope that LE can provide your family with answers & justice.


In terms of the Jody Loomis case and Washington State:

I wondered if there was a rape kit backlog in Washington, given that the suspect, Miller, reportedly had a history of sexual offenses but was not in the system (which is why he had to be matched w/ genetic genealogy).

The Seattle Times reported in Oct 2018:

Nearly 6,500 rape kits sit untested statewide, Washington attorney general says

"Nearly 6,500 sexual-assault evidence kits — some of them decades old — are currently sitting untested in law-enforcement storage facilities across Washington, according to a new inventory by the state Attorney General’s Office.

The office announced the total number of kits Wednesday after receiving inventories from 208 law-enforcement agencies across the state. The 6,460 kits have not yet been submitted to the state crime lab for testing. The attorney general is now awaiting federal grant money to allow the crime lab to test the kits.

“Each sexual assault kit tells a story from a survivor that must be heard,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a statement.

***

The Washington state Legislature has dedicated new funding toward testing the backlog. Since 2015, 3,300 kits have been submitted to the crime lab using new state funding and 1,700 of those have been tested, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Those kits are in addition to the 6,460 identified by the Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday."


I'm sure that police are now looking hard at Miller for similar crimes in the area. It's heartbreaking to know that thousands of rape kits have gone untested.

It sure is! Thanks for your help.

 

[Niner]

04/15/2019 Initial Arraignment
Judicial Officer: Larsen, Cindy
Hearing Time: 1:00 PM

05/09/2019 Omnibus
Judicial Officer: Okrent, Richard T
Hearing Time: 10:30 AM

06/07/2019 Jury Trial
Judicial Officer: Weiss, Bruce I
Hearing Time: 1:00 PM

link: Odyssey Portal - Washington Courts Online Case Search

 

[Niner]

https://mltnews.com/suspect-in-1972-cold-case-murder-pleads-not-guilty-trial-date-set-for-june-7/


A 77-year-old Edmonds-area man pleaded not guilty Monday in Snohomish County Superior Court to charges of first-degree premeditated murder in the 1972 cold case rape and murder of 20-year-old Bothell resident Jody Loomis.

Snohomish County Superior Court Judge Cindy Larsen set bail at $1 million for Terrence Miller, who was arrested by Snohomish County Sheriff officers and booked into Snohomish County Jail April 10.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Investigators connected DNA from the crime scene with information that Miller's relatives posted on genealogy websites.

Man charged with 1972 murder of Jody Loomis appears in court

 

[Niner]

Thursday, May 9th:
*Omnibus (Pretrial) Hearing (@ 10:30am PT) – WA – Jody Loomis (20) (Aug. 23, 1972, Mill Creek) - *Terrence Miller (77/30 @ time of crime) arrested (4/10/19), charged (4/12/19) & arraigned (4/15/19) with 1st degree premeditated murder. Plead not guilty. $1M bond.
Parabon Nanolabs/GEDMatch (DNA match from a coffee cup to that of semen collected from Loomis’ boots).
4/12/19 Update: Initial Arraignment on 4/11/19 continued to 4/15.
4/15/19 Update: Plead not guilty. Next Omnibus (pretrial) hearing on 5/9, jury trial set for 6/7.

 

[Niner]

05/09/2019 Omnibus
Judicial Officer: Okrent, Richard T
Hearing Time: 10:30 AM
05/09/2019 Hearing Cancelled Plaintiff Prosecution Requested

06/07/2019 Jury Trial
Judicial Officer: Weiss, Bruce I
Hearing Time: 1:00 PM

link: Odyssey Portal - Washington Courts Online Case Search

 

[Niner]

Looks like he had some hearings in late May.

05/29/2019 Motion and Affidavit Declaration
Comment: for Order Directing Deposition of Thomas Elder

05/29/2019 Motion and Affidavit Declaration
Comment: for Order Directing Deposition of Walter Morris

05/30/2019 Motion and Affidavit Declaration
Comment: for Reduction of Bail [to $750K]

05/30/2019 Memorandum
Comment: in Opposition to Reduction in Bail

05/31/2019 Motion Hearing
Judicial Officer: Kurtz, David A
Hearing Time: 1:00 PM
Comment: ATC, Omnibus, and Bail Hearing

06/07/2019 Jury Trial
Judicial Officer: Weiss, Bruce I
Hearing Time: 1:00 PM

07/17/2019 Status Conference
Judicial Officer: Kurtz, David A
Hearing Time: 9:00 AM

link: Odyssey Portal - Washington Courts Online Case Search

 

[Niner]

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/judge-lowers-bail-for-suspect-in-1972-killing-of-jody-loomis/


EVERETT — A Snohomish County judge reduced bail by $250,000 on Friday for the Edmonds man charged with murdering Jody Loomis in 1972.

Bail had been set at $1 million for Terrence Miller, 77, soon after a long-awaited arrest in April.
[.....]
Superior Court Judge David Kurtz heard a defense motion seeking to cut his bail in half, if Miller surrendered his passport and agreed to GPS monitoring.

According to defense attorney Laura Martin, his wife suffered a recent stroke that left her largely disabled, unable to use a computer, and unable to run their ceramics business by herself.
[.....]
Jody Loomis’ sister, Jana, told the judge that if Miller were released he could disappear, and the family would be forced to relive their nightmare.
[.....]
Miller’s tentative trial date is set for October. then why does the court site have jury trial on 6/7??
[.....]
The judge also reduced bail to $750,000, citing Miller’s lack of conviction history, his age and his ties to the community.