Pierce County, Washington detectives said they solved the 1988 murder of 18-year-old Tracy Whitney and publicly named their suspect.
On August 28, 1988, Washington State fishermen discovered Whitney’s unclothed body at the confluence of the Puyallup and White Rivers, according to KOMO News. An autopsy indicated that she died from asphyxia due to being strangled and possibly smothered. The corpse displayed injuries from blunt force and indicators of sexual assault, according to the autopsy. Authorities ruled her death a homicide and collected DNA. Interviews of those who were acquainted with Whitney did not produce solid leads and the case went cold. (RELATED: New York City Stabbing Spree Suspect Had Eight Prior Arrests, Out On Bail During Attacks)
The Combined DNA Index System analyzed the DNA samples in 2005 but did not determine any matches, the outlet reported. A grant from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office allowed for the Cold Cases Detective Sergeant to send the DNA for lab testing in 2022, which returned a result. The identified suspect, John Guillot Jr., died before testing uncovered him as a match. Guillot’s biological son provided detectives with their final confirmation that John was the alleged killer.
Robin Whitney, a sister of the deceased, thanked the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department for their dedication and commitment in a Facebook post. She also called for further investigation into Guillot Jr.
“My father, Ronald Whitney, stayed in touch with the detectives over the years to ensure that Tracy’s case remained a priority. He wanted to make sure she was not forgotten, as she deserves justice,” she wrote.
“There was no connection between Tracy and Guillot, indicating that it was a case of ‘stranger abduction,’” Robin continued. “We believe that John Guillot Jr. likely committed other crimes. However, since he is deceased and due to current legal restrictions, his DNA cannot be uploaded into CODIS (law enforcement DNA database). We hope that this policy can be reevaluated, as it could aid in solving additional cases.”
Authorities also said that Whitney and Guillot Jr. were not connected, KOMO News reported. Investigators suspect that the man abducted, raped and murdered her despite not knowing her. FBI data indicates that most murders are committed by perpetrators who are already familiar with their victims.
