‘Sexual sadist’ charged with second cold case murder, rape of Everett woman

A man who was arrested in 2024 for the alleged rape and murder of a woman in 1984 has been charged with another cold case that occurred four years before.

On March 13, Mitchell Gaff, 68, was charged with the rape and murder of then-21-year-old Susan Vesey in 1980. Gaff was 22 years old at the time of the alleged crime.

Vesey’s husband found her tied up and beaten inside her home on Casino Way in Everett on the morning of her 21st birthday, according to court documents obtained by KIRO 7.

Vesey was a mom of two children, both under the age of two, with her youngest being just three months old. Vesey’s children were not harmed in the attack.

Case remained unsolved for 44 years until detective noticed similarities with 1984 murder

The case went cold and remained unsolved until recently. Gaff was already incarcerated in 2024 for the rape and murder of 42-year-old Judy Weaver.

In Weaver’s case, someone entered her home and attacked her between June 1 and June 2 in 1984. Weaver was found bound, beaten, and strangled. She had also been raped, according to court documents obtained by KIRO 7.

Weaver’s attacker removed batteries from her smoke alarm and attempted to set her apartment on fire in an effort to destroy evidence.

DNA samples from each victim were taken in both cases, though technology at the time was not as advanced as it is currently, according to court documents. Both samples were stored for testing at a later date.

In November 2023, a detective looking into Weaver’s case sent the DNA sample out for testing and received a match, which was Gaff.

Gaff’s DNA was already in the system at that time, following a 1984 conviction for rape and torture of two teen sisters inside their home. Gaff was arrested and charged in May 2024 for Weaver’s death.

The detective assigned to her case noticed similarities in how Weaver and Vesey were found. The detective then tested Gaff’s DNA against the sample found at Vesey’s home. Both samples were a match, according to court documents obtained by KIRO 7.

Court documents state there is currently no evidence that suggests Gaff knew either Weaver or Vesey, and that there wouldn’t be any “innocent reason” for why his DNA would be at the scene.

Gaff remains inside Snohomish County Jail and has received additional charges for aggravated first-degree murder and first-degree murder for his alleged involvement in Vesey’s death. The same charges were filed against Gaff for Weaver’s death.

A doctor who evaluated Gaff labeled him a “sexual sadist,” and designated him a “sexually violent predator” by Washington in 1994 and 2000, according to court documents.

Gaff is currently being held on no bail.

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest