murder2.jpg
The people that murdered Danny Vega, Andis Peterson, Kaari Higgins, Gregory Anderson, Nicole Westbrook, Gregette Guy, Sherry Soth, and Zachary Lewis have not been found. SPD wants to find out who killed them. (Images courtesy SPD)

SPD launching 'Who killed me?' campaign

BY Jamie Skorheim  on September 18, 2012 @ 6:14 am (Updated: 12:03 pm - 9/18/12 )

Murder victims will soon be appearing on buses and billboards around the Seattle area.

The Seattle Police Department is launching a campaign Tuesday featuring images of murder victims along with the question "Who killed me?"

Images depict victims from unsolved murders in crimes dating back to the beginning of 2010.

"We want to keep the memories alive of each person behind the headlines," says the Seattle Police Department. "We also need your help to find their killers."

Images of victims of unsolved murders in this period are featured at the Seattle Police Blotter page.

A pair of roommates killed in a home invasion of January 2010 are at the top of the list.

"Franklin Wood loved to make his friends and family laugh, with his great sense of humor and clever rhymes. He was an accomplished pencil artist, drawing detailed life like portraits," says a line about unsolved murder victim Franklin Wood.

His roommate Andis Peterson is described as his father's best friend, and "a kind, loving young man who enjoyed going paintballing with friends, and playing with his dog, Buster."

The most recent victim is Sherry Soth killed July 1 around 1:56 a.m.

"Sherry's family and friends knew her as a 'free spirit seedling traveling wherever the wind would take her. Sherry was always ready for fun and adventure, and was caring and compassionate to others in need."

The Catch a Killer page shows 16 victims currently, but will reportedly be adding victims from unsolved murders dating back to 2000.

The campaign is telling people, "Don't Stay Silent!"

"Help SPD to catch a killer and take them off our streets," says the department.

Anyone with information about any of these unsolved murders is asked to call the Homicide tip line at (206) 233-5000.

By JAMIE GRISWOLD, MyNorthwest.com Editor

Jamie Skorheim, MyNorthwest.com Editor
Whether it's floating on Green Lake, eating shrimp tacos at Agua Verde, or taking weekend drives out to the Cascades, she loves to enjoy the Pacific Northwest lifestyle as much as humanly possible.
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Comments (13)


  • Add A Comment

  • deltta wrote...
    Great job SPD!
    September 18, 2012 6:53 am
    What a fantastic way to support any business that depends on tourism. Seattle really is a disaster isn't it? How about some real policework? Or is that asking too much...........
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Kief Sloberman wrote...
    Look under the bus
    September 18, 2012 7:14 am
    and you'll find Obama's victims. There is a pile of bodies under there. The Ambassador to Libya just joined them.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Newton wrote...
    Really ?.
    September 18, 2012 8:01 am
    Maybe the Citizens who are helpfull and hard working just don't need to be thinking about murder victims every time they see a Bus. Just a Wild Thought. How about my campaign SPD should only have and use wooden guns. Keep the Public safe!.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    Wow
    September 18, 2012 9:41 am
    Look at you guys all getting up in SPD's grill... They are just trying to focus on the cold cases and get some tips... If you are so freaking smart why don't you jump out there with your wooden gun and chase down these murders you know so much about. Good job SPD for doing what you can to find the outstanding suspects! On another note; are people so stupid to think that when they come to visit a big city such as Seattle that there are not crimes or homicides associated with the city? I don't think a little bus add is going to cause a major stir.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • dori monson fan wrote...
    what about yancy?
    September 18, 2012 10:15 am
    might be a good place to put a picture of the silver bmw too. also, I was giving his case some thought this weekend. Unless his murderer has a 5' long right arm, shouldn't we be looking for this particular BMW with burns on the front or rear passenger seat and or floor mats? The shell casings come out very hot, hot enough to put some burns in thin leather or carpet. Of course if shooter had a revolver this wouldn't be the case, but slicked back hair BMW dude with $ would seem more like a glock owner to me. Also, why don't the police tell us what kind of gun was used? Since they have the bullets from yancy's body they should know not only the caliber, but can probably also determine the type of gun used by the rifling marks on the spent bullets. Usually people with guns have at least one friend who has seen that gun, and if we can single out the owner of the particular gun who also has this rare silver BMW seems like it should be easy to find them. So police, give the public more info please so we can help solve this case before it goes cold.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Question
    September 18, 2012 10:58 am
    Has this been attempted elsewhere and did it work? If not I believe its a waste of $$$
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    Maybe it is a waste of money
    September 18, 2012 11:43 am
    But perhaps it won't be... Why can't SPD be the first to test this out? The deck of playing cards with cold cases on them proved to be a success so maybe this will. Why not try everything possible? As for the release of evidence; there is no way releasing specific evidence such as the kind of gun/caliber needs to be kept secret as those are details only known to the killer and can be quite helpful in an interview with a person of interest/suspect.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • messiah101 wrote...
    Cash
    September 18, 2012 2:46 pm
    "try everything"? Sorry Cash but this does not pass the Common Sense test.Why would photos of murder victims spark new leads in their murders?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Annie (1) wrote...
    Why wouldn't it?
    September 18, 2012 3:52 pm
    m101-how do you know photos won't help? maybe-just maybe-someone who knows something will see these victims & it will be the nudge they need to call in. Sometimes putting a face to a story-makes it more of a reality to some.If this was your family member-wouldn't you at least want to give it a try?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Witchwood wrote...
    Will SPD feature its own victims as well?
    September 18, 2012 7:27 pm

    Ah, probably not. I guess everyone knows who killed/paralyzed/beat them, huh?

    It would be a good idea to put the victims of paramilitary police on a bus, though. We could call it the "Thanks for all that protection" campaign. Jose Guerena's face could be placed right in the center.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cash wrote...
    M-101
    September 18, 2012 8:50 pm
    Nothing seems to pass the common sense test with you... Why not give this a try? Like I said the cold case playing cards and posters that were put up in local jails and passed out were very successful in obtaining witnesses who came forward in cold cases. Sheesh the cops are out trying their best to solve some murders and all they get is grief from you folks. Witchwood really? What a dope you must be...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mike in Pioneer Square wrote...
    I can't believe...
    September 18, 2012 10:12 pm
    that so many of these are still unsolved! Maybe a change of approach is needed. It seems like most of the time the police are nowhere to be found. Then they show up *after* crimes have already been committed, to file reports. That doesn't help anything at all, yet that's the normal procedure.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Annie (1) wrote...
    HUH?
    September 19, 2012 9:08 am
    Mike in Pioneer Square-Huh?? What are you talking about?? Somehow Police are supposed to know BEFORE a murder is committed-well that would be great-how will that work-hire clairvoyants? Being flippant-sorry.But-what is your solution-your new approach-how would they prevent these/any kinds of murders? So yes-when something happens Detectives show up-take statements file reports & then start working on interviewing-looking at evidence etc. It's how they work & it's NOT TRUE that it doesn't help anything. They do arrest,try & convict people all the time.These cases are OUTSIDE the norm-hence this campaign. I think it's worth a try-the key word there is TRY. The police have not given up & I for one am grateful they haven't.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }