Washington Man Sentenced in Cold Case Murders

A man from Washington state has received a sentence of 50 years to life in prison after confessing to two murders connected to a cold case that had lingered for decades. This breakthrough involved an unusual piece of evidence: chewing gum.

Mitchell Gough, aged 74, pled guilty last week to the murders of Susan Vesey, 21, and Judith “Judy” Weaver, 42, both from Everett. Reports indicate this information was unveiled by local news.

Investigators made the connection to Gough while he was approached at his home by an Everett police detective posing as a researcher in the gum industry. The detective invited him to try some samples, which Gough provided. This sample was later tested through the federal DNA database CODIS, ultimately linking him to Weaver’s murder.

He was arrested in May 2024 and subsequently faced charges for Vesey’s murder as well, where officials established she was killed in her apartment on July 12, 1980, just a day after her 21st birthday.

During the court proceedings, Gough expressed remorse to the victims’ families, attributing his past violent behaviors to drug and alcohol abuse. He stated, “I’m sorry not because I was caught, but because of the consequences.” He added that no one deserved to have him in their lives.

Former law enforcement officer Jacqueline O’Brien also testified, recalling her own near-fatal encounter with Gough in her garage back in 1979. She mentioned feeling certain that he intended to kill her, a harrowing memory that has stayed with her.

O’Brien managed to escape and significantly aided in identifying Gough to law enforcement. Gough had been arrested multiple times over the years, even serving time for raping two teenage sisters in 1984.

Joshua Vesey, the son of Susan Vesey, shared his own heartbreaking story in court. He was just three months old when his mother was murdered, stating, “What he took from me and my sister was not only our lives, but our mother’s unconditional love.” He expressed frustration that Gough could have ended their family’s suffering at any point.

Weaver’s brother, Leon Gregory, discussed the enduring impact the case has had on their family, highlighting the ongoing pain of potentially never knowing the truth. “It’s been a long time, 42 years,” he said. “My parents and siblings have all passed away without closure.”

Before delivering the sentence, the judge pointed to Gough’s violent history and his repeated attempts to evade responsibility for his actions, stating that these factors warranted a substantial sentence.

“The defendant’s history includes extremely violent crimes against women that were sexually motivated,” the judge noted, emphasizing the weight of the families’ years of waiting for justice.

The Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office did not provide a comment following the proceedings.