Man in Washington admits guilt in two cold case murders from years ago

Man Pleads Guilty to Cold Case Murders After 20 Years

A man from Washington has admitted to involvement in a cold case that dates back two decades. This was revealed after detectives utilized a clever tactic involving gum to establish his connection to the crimes.

Mitchell Gough, who is 68, formally pleaded guilty in Snohomish County Superior Court on Thursday, confessing to the rape and murder of Judith “Judy” Weaver and Susan Vesey, as indicated by the Everett Police Department.

Gough, who has been diagnosed as a “sexual sadist,” was connected to the two murders when investigators matched DNA from discarded chewing gum to both crime scenes, according to reports.

The breakthrough occurred when Everett detectives approached Gough at his home in Olympia. They pretended to be researchers needing taste testers for new gum flavors—an unexpected twist that led him to sample several products. Ultimately, the DNA from this gum was run through a federal database and linked back to the two cold cases.

In May 2024, authorities took Gough into custody related to Weaver’s case. They found Weaver’s body after responding to a fire at her home on June 2, 1984.

As for the Vesey case, her murder happened on July 12, 1980, just a day after her 21st birthday, when her husband found her dead in their home, following a tragic series of events.

Gough’s criminal history revealed a pattern of violence. Initially, in 1979, he assaulted a woman named Jackie Brown while she was outside her home. He brandished a toy gun and physically attacked her, but she managed to escape, which resulted in his conviction for assault and robbery.

Not long after, Gough was again arrested while on probation, this time for a more serious assault involving two young girls, aged 14 and 16, whom he attacked in their home. He tied them up and assaulted them before one girl escaped and called for help.

Throughout the 1980s, Gough claimed to have attempted to assault up to 30 women daily and admitted to raping at least eight, which paints a troubling picture of his behavior over the years.

Everett Mayor Cathy Franklin expressed pride in the police department’s use of DNA technology to finally bring some resolution to these cases. She emphasized the importance of honoring the victims’ memories by seeking justice.