Summary

On November 4, 1986, at approximately 7:38 a.m., officers with the Spokane Police Department responded to an alley near South Ivory Street and East Pacific Avenue following a report of a person lying in the roadway.

When officers arrived, they discovered a deceased woman in a nearby alley. The woman was identified as 32-year-old Mary Ann Turner, and investigators determined that she had been murdered.

The Spokane Police Department launched an investigation, but the person responsible for Turner’s murder could not be identified. The case remained unresolved for nearly four decades.

In August of 2025, investigators with the Spokane Police Department submitted evidence to Othram for advanced DNA testing. Using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®, Othram scientists worked to develop a comprehensive DNA profile for the suspect. This profile was used by Othram's forensic genetic genealogy team to develop new leads in the case.

These leads were provided to law enforcement for a follow-up investigation. These leads, considered in conjunction with witness statements obtained early in the investigation, enabled detectives to develop probable cause to charge 74-year-old David Tibbett with second-degree murder.

On October 21, 2026, detectives with the Spokane Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and Special Investigations Unit served a search warrant at Tibbett’s residence. Tibbett was taken into custody and booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of second-degree murder.

The investigation into Mary Ann Turner’s death remains ongoing.

This is the 50th publicly announced case in Washington in which investigators have used Othram’s technology to identify an individual. Learn about other cases by visiting Othram’s website