King County sheriff to close cold-case unit as money runs out
SEATTLE - The King County Sheriff's cold-case unit is closing at the end of the year - despite some stunning successes in bringing killers to justice.
Sheriff-elect John Urquhart says with federal dollars running out - the county just doesn't have the money to keep it alive.
Behind the door of the cold-case unit are still files on 228 murder victims and likely murder victims with no resolution - no suspect arrested - no justice for those left behind.
Now the King County Sheriff's cold-case unit that was their best chance for closure - is itself being shut down.
After three years, a half-million-dollar federal grant has run out and there's no more county money to keep it going.
"It's our job to bring justice to the victims and the victims' families - and that's what that unit does," says Urquhart.
In some of those 228 cold cases, the murders still resonate. The unit was able to arrest David Pietz - charged with the murder of his wife Nicki.
But the family of Federal Way High student Sarah Yarborough is still waiting for justice after 20 years.
"There isn't closure. I don't have a sister. My parents don't have a daughter. Those are experiences and memories that are just lost," says Andrew Yarborough.
Family and friends of homicide victims are upset that the lack of money means no more full-time detectives are working on their loved ones' cases.
"They're disappointed, they're upset that this is happening," says Sgt. Jesse Anderson.
But some of the murders date to the 1940s. Family and friends are gone, and justice is up to detectives.
"We are their voice," says Anderson. "We are the ones that bring justice for those victims who no longer have a family or friends around to try to push the issue, to try to bring their case to light again."
Urquhart says it will be his job to go through the budget and prioritize.
"This is clearly very, very, very important - but I can't guarantee that it's going to come back any time soon," says the sheriff-elect.
Over the past four years of tight budgets, the Sheriff's Office has already shut down fraud and domestic violence units.
Urquhart says his priorities will start with responding to 911 calls - and work his way up from there.
Sheriff-elect John Urquhart says with federal dollars running out - the county just doesn't have the money to keep it alive.
Behind the door of the cold-case unit are still files on 228 murder victims and likely murder victims with no resolution - no suspect arrested - no justice for those left behind.
Now the King County Sheriff's cold-case unit that was their best chance for closure - is itself being shut down.
After three years, a half-million-dollar federal grant has run out and there's no more county money to keep it going.
"It's our job to bring justice to the victims and the victims' families - and that's what that unit does," says Urquhart.
In some of those 228 cold cases, the murders still resonate. The unit was able to arrest David Pietz - charged with the murder of his wife Nicki.
But the family of Federal Way High student Sarah Yarborough is still waiting for justice after 20 years.
"There isn't closure. I don't have a sister. My parents don't have a daughter. Those are experiences and memories that are just lost," says Andrew Yarborough.
Family and friends of homicide victims are upset that the lack of money means no more full-time detectives are working on their loved ones' cases.
"They're disappointed, they're upset that this is happening," says Sgt. Jesse Anderson.
But some of the murders date to the 1940s. Family and friends are gone, and justice is up to detectives.
"We are their voice," says Anderson. "We are the ones that bring justice for those victims who no longer have a family or friends around to try to push the issue, to try to bring their case to light again."
Urquhart says it will be his job to go through the budget and prioritize.
"This is clearly very, very, very important - but I can't guarantee that it's going to come back any time soon," says the sheriff-elect.
Over the past four years of tight budgets, the Sheriff's Office has already shut down fraud and domestic violence units.
Urquhart says his priorities will start with responding to 911 calls - and work his way up from there.
Great idea to use retired officers or reserve officers but the sheriff dept will never go for it, it makes to much sense and is not flashy enough plus you would have the union crying like babies about taking jobs away from rank and file officers
The entire drama of this unit resulted not from a desire to solve old cases, but to capitalize on a popular television show to rack up some PR points to rake in additional funding. That's all this unit was about. It was driven by cynicism and greed, and had absolutely nothing to do with good police work, period. Good riddance to putrid rubbish.
 @wysoumible Apparently it offends you when cold cases often involving multiple murder victims are solved and killers brought to justice. What are you hiding?
 @wysoumible you sound as if you know something about it, why don't you share some more facts please.
@Komo Dragon @wysoumible has not basis for this statement. I've dealt with the officers that lead this unit. They work hard are respectful and responsive to victims families. Every major city and county in the country has dedicated officers that work cold cases. Has nothing to do with TV drama and everything to do with chasing violent criminals living among our communities. Wysoumible, please bring more than conjecture to the discussion. A better question is, why are we relying on Federal grant money to fund an essential unit in the largest county in our state?
Very sad I agree~ I feel for the families who really have no where else to go for help in these long lost cases.
Sad to hear cold cases are being put on the back burner when King County has difficulty solving hot cases...
Thats a good idea Komo Dragon. Could get some retired police officers to volunteer.
 @Need2Know plus there is a reserve program in place already to train new volunteers - they go through the academy (Burien, I believe) and then they commit a certain amount of time every month. Fighting crime is in everyone's best interest.Â
Maybe they should consider reserve officers (volunteers) to run it low cost. Giving up on cold cases is sending the wrong message and encourages the wrong elements in society.Â
What's up with - all the - dashes - being used here - incorrectly? Â Do writers - get - to make up their - own grammar rules? Bah humbug. Â
 @lakeview The dashes are used correctly, showing a shift in tone or a break in thoughts. There is nothing wrong with the grammar in this story.Â
 @PackersCougsBravesSounders  @lakeview Knowing KOMO and their "MUST - GET - STORY- OUT- FIRST- EVEN- IF- THE -FACTS- AREN'T- THERE" way of doing injustice to journalism 101....you never know. It's like William Shatner reading a weather report for crying out loud. "Spock....we- only have....PART of the weather model- but--....we canBE......ASSURED.....that....the weather.....ISGONNASUCK!"
@Wolfen @PackersCougsBravesSounders @lakeview To be fair to KOMO this story has been around for about 6 months. The potential for this unit to be cut out of the budget had been in discussion longer than 6 months. Sadly, there just hasn't been enough public interest to notice.
And billionaires are enjoying the tiniest tax rates in modern history. Â Thanks republicans.Â
Of course, Democrats spending money like drunken sailors on things like endless handouts for illegals has NOTHING to do with it, right?
@James127 Of course we never paid for those things when the Republicans held the presidency! @ DT Of course if the billionaires paid their share then we would not have a financial mess?! Get a grip people, doesn't matter who is in office, we are in serious financial trouble. Both parties have given away our money.  If the government businesses were run more like a BUSINESS they might recover.
Sad. I guess, in this state, paying bloated salaries to our government "representatives" is more important than finding murderers and giving families closure.
Government keeps cutting services while their pay keeps going up. Get salaries down to some reasonable levels and maybe they could keep more officers on staff to work cold cases. Unions aren't going to allow that to happen though.
 @Blindman I have found that you usually get what you pay for. You pay for professional sheriff deputies or you can call up up a security company and get a rent a cop. I think I will take the deputy if in need. With criminals and gangs gaining ground we need to have deputies that work to control crime.
Pay now or pay later, crime is out there and without professional officers we will have even more crime.
@Blindman ah yes typical sheep response, government employees should work for free.
 @Common Sense  @Blindman Blindman is not referring to government employees.  He's referring to our dear representatives that go into special session every year (and get paid overtime) and otherwise not accomplishing a whole lot.  IMHO, these positions should be volunteer without pay.  Maybe then they will do the work of the people who elected them.
@Common Sense They shouldn't work for free but they should be willing to accept reasonable wages in these economic times. Everyone is taking a hit EXCEPT government employees, while they're lobbying for themselves to get massive pay raises.
@Common Sense Last I knew Boeing is private company, the tax payers are not paying for their bonuses, medical benefits or retirement.
@Tattooed_Angel ummm Boeing just got huge pay raises hike state workers might get their pay cut back again. Oops sorry, you don't want facts screwing up your story.
 @Common Sense  @Blindman The government should NOT work for FREE, but they SHOULD work for US:) WE hire THEM to do a job. Remember?
@Common Sense Wolfen's comment does make sense. The government shouldn't work for free but they SHOULD work for us AND THEY DON'T. Most of them get paid to do nothing except spend others people's money. They are hired to do a job which a majority only do half-assed, if at all.
Ummm that makes no sense