A 1977 Cold Case: The Search for William Church Jr.'s Fiancée
In 1977, William "Bill" Church Jr. disappeared. Partial remains were found by mushroom pickers in 1978. More remains surfaced in 1988. But it wasn't until 2024, when genealogy testing identified him, that investigators confirmed he was a victim of homicide.
Pierce County Sheriff's Department PIO Carly Capetto joins Cold Cases with James Lynch to break down the investigation, the decades of unanswered questions, and the search for a woman named Mary, Bill's fiancée and the last known person to see him alive.
Investigators also believe Bill may have had a young child. Anyone with information about Mary, a possible child, or Bill's life in the mid-1970s is asked to come forward.
If you have any information, call Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS. You can remain anonymous.
