Justice catches up with NW fugitive in Switzerland
SEATTLE -- Justice has finally caught up with a notorious Northwest fugitive.
Adrian Gordon, the prime suspect in a violent robbery, has been hiding out in Switzerland, where KOMO News found him in 2005, and he still remains.
But KOMO News has learned the Swiss government has made good on its promise, finally prosecuting and convicting Gordon for armed robbery in Snohomish.
When asked in 2005 whether he realized he'd likely spend the rest of his life in Switzerland, Gordon said, "Of course; what do you think? You think I came here, not knowing that I'll end up here?"
In 2005, Gordon was living in central Zurich, attending college and hiding from U.S. justice. Swiss authorities refused to extradite him. Gordon has dual citizenship in both U.S. and Switzerland.
But he'd already been charged with robbing Sachi Jewelry in Snohomish, and pistol-whipping owner Brad Jorgensen.
"Isn't a day goes by we don't think about it," said Jorgensen in 2005. "It just never goes away."
After posting bail, Gordon flew to Switzerland, seemingly safe from prosecution, until KOMO News caught up with him.
"I was happy to see you chase him down a street in Switzerland," said Snohomish Prosecutor Mark Roe. "Honestly, I got joy in that. I mean, at least the deed that he had done was not going away, and it was following him."
Now, eight years after the crime, Snohomish authorities have learned the Swiss have prosecuted Gordon for his crimes in the U.S., and sentenced to 23 months in prison.
"I would love to have been able to tell Brad, 'Hey, the Swiss finally did something and at least he got some jail.' But I can't tell him that, because he passed away," said Roe.
Jorgensen died just 10 months after KOMO's 2005 story. His son believes his father would be happy at the news of Gordon's conviction.
"I think he'd be glad to see that a little bit of justice was served. I think he'd like to see it served here," said Corey Jorgensen.
And that could still happen. Roe says if Gordon ever returns to the U.S., he can and will still prosecute him.
Even though the U.S. just found out about Gordon's Swiss conviction, it actually happened two years ago, so he could be out of prison in a few months if he isn't already.
Adrian Gordon, the prime suspect in a violent robbery, has been hiding out in Switzerland, where KOMO News found him in 2005, and he still remains.
But KOMO News has learned the Swiss government has made good on its promise, finally prosecuting and convicting Gordon for armed robbery in Snohomish.
When asked in 2005 whether he realized he'd likely spend the rest of his life in Switzerland, Gordon said, "Of course; what do you think? You think I came here, not knowing that I'll end up here?"
In 2005, Gordon was living in central Zurich, attending college and hiding from U.S. justice. Swiss authorities refused to extradite him. Gordon has dual citizenship in both U.S. and Switzerland.
But he'd already been charged with robbing Sachi Jewelry in Snohomish, and pistol-whipping owner Brad Jorgensen.
"Isn't a day goes by we don't think about it," said Jorgensen in 2005. "It just never goes away."
After posting bail, Gordon flew to Switzerland, seemingly safe from prosecution, until KOMO News caught up with him.
"I was happy to see you chase him down a street in Switzerland," said Snohomish Prosecutor Mark Roe. "Honestly, I got joy in that. I mean, at least the deed that he had done was not going away, and it was following him."
Now, eight years after the crime, Snohomish authorities have learned the Swiss have prosecuted Gordon for his crimes in the U.S., and sentenced to 23 months in prison.
"I would love to have been able to tell Brad, 'Hey, the Swiss finally did something and at least he got some jail.' But I can't tell him that, because he passed away," said Roe.
Jorgensen died just 10 months after KOMO's 2005 story. His son believes his father would be happy at the news of Gordon's conviction.
"I think he'd be glad to see that a little bit of justice was served. I think he'd like to see it served here," said Corey Jorgensen.
And that could still happen. Roe says if Gordon ever returns to the U.S., he can and will still prosecute him.
Even though the U.S. just found out about Gordon's Swiss conviction, it actually happened two years ago, so he could be out of prison in a few months if he isn't already.