New bid to find identity of Snohomish County murder victim

Officials in Snohomish County have exhumed the remains of a woman who was murdered nearly 31 years ago in hopes that new technology will help identify her.

The woman's body, strangled and shot in the head, was found in August 1977 by blackberry pickers in south Everett.

David Marvin Roth was convicted of first-degree murder. Investigators said he picked up a hitchhiker near Silver Lake and drove her to an area in south Everett, where they drank some beer.

Court records say that when she refused him sex, he strangled and shot her.

Roth was linked to the killing in 1979 after his rifle was seized in a traffic stop. It was matched to bullets found in the murder victim.

Sheriff's officials say Roth maintains he doesn't even know the victim's first name.

Investigators obtained a court order to exhume her remains, saying DNA and other new technology may make it possible to identify her.

The remains of the victim, believed to have been 15 to 21 years old, were exhumed from her unmarked grave on April 1 at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Everett.

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Information from: The Herald, http://www.heraldnet.com