33-year-old mystery solved: DNA ties late husband to wife’s 1977 slaying in Washington state

1977 Washington state cold case homicide solved

EVERETT, Wash. — Sheriff’s detectives in Washington state say they have solved a homicide that has been a mystery for 33 years, since 24-year-old Marsha Sitton was found strangled in the back seat of her car on June 24, 1977.

The prosecutor in Everett said Wednesday that if Sitton’s husband, Kerry Sitton, hadn’t died in 2004, he would be charged with murder.

The connection came through a 12-inch piece of rope that was recovered at the crime scene. With advances in DNA testing, the Washington state crime lab recently was able to perform advanced tests on the rope. The sheriff’s office says that testing showed DNA that matched that of Kerry Sitton.