‘Justice denied’ in 1978 murder of elderly woman

A King County judge said Wednesday that justice has been denied in the case of an elderly woman who was murdered inside her Rainier Avenue mobile home more than 33 years ago.

Her suspected killer, Ronald Wayne MacDonald, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for her death.

Although prosecutors believe it was clearly a case of murder, time had taken its toll on evidence and witnesses.

“The case detective has no memory of this case whatsoever. The medical examiner who did the autopsy is dead. The person who lifted the fingerprint at the scene is dead,” said Senior Deputy Prosecutor Kristin Richardson.

Facing the possibility of acquittal should MacDonald go to trial for first-degree murder, prosecutors decided instead to offer him a plea deal.

MacDonald, 50, pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

“It is heartbreaking to me,” Richardson said. “The judge said this morning that it is an example of justice delayed being justice denied. I think that’s a good way to put it.”

Arlene Roberts, 80, was found dead inside her mobile home on Oct. 28, 1978. Her hands and feet had been bound with nylon stockings, she had been strangled with a hair net and was naked from the waist down. Her home had been ransacked.

The case turned cold, until King County Sheriff’s Deputies were able to link MacDonald to the crime based on fingerprints found at the scene.