How discarded chewing gum helped convict a serial rapist of two cold case murders

How discarded chewing gum helped convict a serial rapist of two cold case murders

How discarded chewing gum helped convict – Four decades after the murders of two Washington state women, a chance encounter involving a small dish of gum and a man in pajamas became the key to linking Mitchell Gaff to the crimes. Susan Logothetti, an investigator with the Everett Police Department, recounted how the incident unfolded during a January 2024 visit to a yellow house in Everett. She and two colleagues were distributing flyers for a chewing gum brand when Gaff, 68, opened his door and invited them in for a sample. The meeting, which appeared casual, would later reveal a pivotal piece of evidence.

The Gum Ruse and a Critical Discovery

Logothetti described the scene: Gaff wore pajamas and greeted the trio with enthusiasm as they offered him different flavors of gum. One of the colleagues held out a dish during the tasting, prompting Gaff to spit the first piece into it. “I remember watching him spit the first piece of gum into the ramekin and seeing the saliva, and it was very hard for me to contain my excitement,” Logothetti said in a

interview with CNN

. At the time, the investigators were unaware that this seemingly mundane act would provide the DNA needed to solve two cold cases that had stumped law enforcement for years.

The affidavit of probable cause, filed in March 2024, highlighted the significance of the “gum ruse” as a method to gather evidence. Gaff, who had already been convicted of a rape, was interviewed by undercover detectives during this encounter. The saliva sample from the gum would later be matched to both victims, confirming his role in the 1984 murder of Judy Weaver and the 1980 killing of Susan Vesey. This discovery, made possible by modern DNA technology, transformed the course of the investigation.

The Cold Cases and Gaff’s Guilty Plea

When the murders of Vesey and Weaver were first committed, they were considered separate incidents. Vesey, a 21-year-old mother of two young children, was killed in July 1980 after Gaff forced his way into her home. According to his guilty plea statement, he tied her up, beat her, raped her, and strangled her before setting fire to the bedroom. Weaver, a 42-year-old mother, was attacked four years later in her bedroom, where Gaff also set a fire to destroy evidence. “Before leaving I wrapped cords around her neck and lit the corner of the bedspread in an attempt to cover up my crime and with the intention of killing her,” Gaff stated. The two murders, once thought unrelated, were finally connected through the DNA found in the gum.

Gaff admitted to the killings on April 16, 2024, as part of his plea. He faces up to life in prison during his sentencing on Wednesday. The breakthrough came when forensic scientists analyzed the DNA from the gum sample, which matched evidence on Weaver’s body. This was the first time the two cases were linked, and the findings demonstrated how far forensic science has advanced since the crimes were committed.

The Role of DNA Technology in Solving the Cases

At the time of the murders, DNA profiling was not yet a reliable tool for criminal investigations. However, law enforcement had taken a forward-thinking approach in Weaver’s case by submitting vaginal swabs to the lab shortly after her death. The results, which were initially inconclusive, were revisited in 2020 when new advancements in DNA analysis made it possible to re-examine the evidence. This led to the identification of Gaff as the primary suspect.

Forensic scientist Lisa Collins of the Washington State Patrol emphasized the importance of recent innovations in DNA technology. “New software and strides in genetic genealogy are two relatively recent watersheds in DNA profiling that have allowed for breakthroughs in cold cases like these,” Collins told CNN. The use of STRmix, a software that can analyze smaller DNA samples, played a crucial role in narrowing down the suspect. In Weaver’s case, a binding from her body contained a mix of DNA, including her own, her boyfriend’s, and a trace from an unknown individual.

Collins explained that the STRmix program helped isolate the unknown DNA, which was then matched against the national database CODIS. This process, known as Combined DNA Index System, identified Gaff as the only possible match. “The case file on Weaver’s murder that I ultimately inherited from my predecessors at the Everett Police Department brimmed with outlandish theories involving money laundering and cocaine,” Logothetti said. Despite these theories, the DNA evidence ultimately pointed to Gaff as the perpetrator.

The Impact of the Breakthrough

The conviction of Gaff has provided closure for the families of Vesey and Weaver, who had long lived under the weight of uncertainty. For years, the murders were viewed as isolated events, with no clear link between the victims. The identification of the killer has not only solved the cases but also allowed the families to begin healing. Additionally, it has brought relief to a woman Gaff attacked before the murders, whose testimony contributed to the final pieces of the puzzle.

Logothetti reflected on the importance of the discovery, stating, “The Weaver and Vesey cases just needed science to catch up.” The ability to extract and analyze DNA from a small amount of saliva in a discarded gum piece underscores the transformative power of forensic science. What was once considered a minor detail in a routine interaction has now become the foundation of a major conviction.

Gaff’s case highlights how cold cases can be solved through persistence and the application of new scientific methods. Before the breakthrough, the investigation into Weaver’s murder had been stalled, with her boyfriend, who died in 1994, initially regarded as the main suspect. The reanalysis of the evidence, combined with the gum sample, finally established the link to Gaff. This success story serves as a reminder of the critical role DNA technology plays in uncovering truths long buried by time.

As the legal proceedings move forward, Gaff’s admission of guilt has solidified the case against him. The use of the gum ruse not only provided the necessary DNA evidence but also demonstrated the creativity required in solving complex crimes. For Logothetti and her team, the experience was both a professional milestone and a personal vindication. “The discovery of the DNA from the gum was a turning point,” she said. “It showed that even the smallest clues can lead to justice.”