For decades, the murders of Judith “Judy” Weaver and Susan Vesey haunted the Pacific Northwest, cold cases that seemed destined to remain unsolved. Now, a 68-year-old man has confessed to both crimes, brought to justice by a remarkably clever and unconventional tactic.
Mitchell Gaff, described as a “sexual sadist” and a self-proclaimed rapist, terrorized communities for years, accumulating multiple arrests and eventually being required to register as a sex offender. His history was marked by brutal violence, a pattern of predation that stretched back to the late 1970s.
In 1979, Gaff brutally attacked Jackie Brown, holding her at gunpoint and subjecting her to a savage assault. He beat her with a weapon and slammed her head against concrete, telling her she would die. Brown miraculously escaped, and Gaff was convicted of assault and burglary, but the full extent of his depravity remained hidden.
Four years later, while on probation, Gaff escalated his crimes, attacking two teenage girls as they slept. He bound them with electrical cord, assaulted them, and repeatedly raped them. One girl bravely escaped and sought help, forcing Gaff to flee, but he was later convicted of rape and burglary.
Investigators, determined to connect Gaff to the unsolved murders of Weaver and Vesey, devised an ingenious plan. Posing as gum industry researchers, they visited Gaff’s home, dressed casually to appear non-threatening, and offered him free samples of chewing gum.
Gaff willingly participated, sampling different flavors and discarding each piece of gum into provided, sealed containers. Unbeknownst to him, these seemingly innocuous pieces of gum held the key to unlocking decades of mystery.
The collected gum samples were submitted to the federal CODIS database, and the results were chilling. Gaff’s DNA was linked to both the Weaver and Vesey crime scenes, finally providing the conclusive evidence needed to bring him to justice.
Judith Weaver’s body was discovered after a fire at her home in 1984. Susan Vesey was found murdered in her home just days after her 21st birthday in 1980. For their families, the decades-long wait for answers has finally come to an end.
Gaff pleaded guilty to the rapes and murders, admitting to a lifetime of horrific acts. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13, bringing a measure of closure to communities scarred by his violence and a testament to the power of persistent investigation and innovative forensic techniques.
Throughout the years, Gaff reportedly confessed to attempting attacks on as many as thirty women and girls in a single day, admitting to raping at least eight of them. His confession marks the culmination of tireless work by the Everett Police Department and a victory for those who sought justice for the victims.
