When 36-year-old Brett M. Gitchel appeared in King County Superior Court this morning for arraignment, he also answered to the newly filed charge of second-degree murder in the strangulation death of Leticia Martinez-Cosman. The amended charging documents do not include much new information, but did shine light on why investigators searched the area of Renton where they found her body:

… Brett’s historical cellphone data shows that Brett drove outside of the City of Seattle into remote mountainous regions in King County, including locations along I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass and SE Middle Fork Rd in North Bend, before returning to the Seattle area. Beginning on 04/06/2023, members of Law Enforcement, subsequently assisted by King County Search and Rescue personnel, began to physically search areas of interest for Leticia. Areas of interest were chosen and based upon the actions and locations of Brett Gitchel after Leticia went missing at the Mariners game, as indicated by Brett’s historical cellphone data. One of these areas of search interest was the street of “S 192nd St”, between Talbot Rd S (on the east) and WA-SR-167 (on the west) in the City of Renton. This street was selected because historical cellphone data indicated that Brett was near the far west end of S 192nd St for about 20 minutes on 04/01/2023 at approximately 2230 hours, or about 3 1⁄2 hours before Brett made contact with (Leticia’s son) Patrick.

This location was also of interest because of its lightly populated area, its heavily wooded terrain, its proximity to the location where Brett strangled Patrick hours later, and because records reported that Brett had previously lived in an apartment on this same street.

On 04/11/2023, at about 1204 hours, approximately 10 1⁄2 days after she was last seen alive, the deceased body of
Leticia Martinez-Cosman was discovered during a planned law enforcement search near the far west end of S 192nd
St, on the north side of the road.

The narrative adds:

… The circumstances necessary to have caused Leticia’s death by strangulation is a manifestation of Brett’s extreme indifference to her life and was the ultimate cause of her death. Brett used premeditated intentional lies and deception to lure Patrick into a situation in a vehicle where Patrick would be susceptible to Brett’s strangulation. The facts and evidence of this case supports the conclusion that Brett also used premeditated and intentional lies and deception to lure Leticia into a situation in her vehicle where she would be susceptible to Brett’s persistent strangulation, ultimately resulting in her death.

… Brett Michael Gitchel exhibited injuries consistent with the assault of Patrick Cosman and denied going to the Mariners’ game with Leticia and claimed to not recognize her, until he was shown a photograph of them together that he could not deny. Brett’s statement that Leticia met someone at the end of the game and left with them is also not true based upon the T-Mobile Park video of them leaving together. Brett repeatedly lied to law enforcement in his interview until the point where he could not deny the truth any longer and chose to instead end the interview. Brett is depicted alone in multiple videos with Leticia’s vehicle and at her home after her disappearance. Brett’s historical cellphone data provides evidence to support his involvement in the criminal activity listed above.

A text message string between the phones of Brett Gitchel and Leticia Martinez-Cosman was recovered during the search warrant of Brett’s phone. The exchanged messages confirm that Brett did not know nor have any relationship with Leticia prior to her meeting him at Costco on 03/19/2023 and going to the Mariners game on 03/31/2023. Leticia arranged to meet Brett near the home plate entrance of T-Mobile Park before the game. There is no history or evidence to support that Brett had ever been inside Leticia’s car, or had ever been invited to her home, before their meeting at the Mariners game on 03/31/2023.

The narrative concludes that investigators still have not found any evidence of the victim being alive after leaving the Mariners’ game that night with Gitchel around 10:30 pm. He is now charged with second-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree unlawful gun possession, second-degree arson, and first-degree theft, as well as with second-degree burglary in the March 28th West Seattle case. He remains in the King County Jail, bail set at $5,050,000, and his next court date is set for May 15th.

Three reader reports this morning:

STOLEN RED CR-V: From Kerry – “Unfortunately my 1999 red Honda CR-V was stolen again last night between 11:30 pm and 7:50 this morning. The police report incident number: 23-110240. Plate number AOZ7418.” If you see it, you also can text 206-245-8720.” TUESDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Found.

STOLEN PINK BAG WITH SKATING GEAR: From Lily in Morgan Junction:

This morning I found my car (which was parked by my fence) with the passenger window broken and it had clearly been rummaged through.

The only notable thing stolen was a pale pink duffel bag with a pink skating helmet strapped to the outside containing roller derby gear (skates, pads, mouth guard). No idea when it happened, but a neighbor said they’d seen a suspicious truck driving past a few times overnight.

(added 9:54 am) CLOTHING TAKEN: Just received from Madyline in Highland Park:

We have a family member staying with us and her car was robbed last night. She lost a bag of baby clothes and toys, 2 coats (Eddie Bauer- pink, brown & teal color blocked/ old navy black & white) and Steve Madden white platform tennis shoes. If anyone sees any of those things dumped, we would love to get them back to her!

Lots of questions about a big police response at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor) this past hour. It was reported as a shoplifter turning violent, which turns the incident into a robbery. We just went to the store to find out more. They said no one was seriously hurt. Police took a 17-year-old boy into custody.

Yet another West Seattle auto theft to report. From Sukie via email:

Our green Honda CR-V (2000 model, license plate AHH9110) was stolen sometime between last night and this morning from in front of our house on SW Austin Street near 35th Ave. If anyone sees it, here is the police incident number: 23-109448.

Call 911 and refer to that case number if you see it.

FRIDAY UPDATE: Sukie says the car was found in White Center, in relatively good shape.

The photo and report are from Tom in Fauntleroy:

My 1998 Toyota 4Runner, silver in color, was stolen overnight, from 8 pm-8:50 am this morning. License number 681 MCR. Stickers in front windshield of yacht club. Near 45th and Director.

Call 911 if you see it. SPD incident # is 23-109374.

ORIGINAL SUNDAY REPORT: Police are in south Highland Park investigating a reported home-invasion robbery. The victim called 911 to say someone broke into her home near 14th/Henderson and robbed her, getting away with, among other things, her vehicle. It’s described as a 2008 silver Chevy Silverado. The robber was described only as male, 5-10, thin to medium build, in a black mask, not anyone the victim knew. That’s all we’ve heard so far. (added) If you have any information, the incident number for this is 23-109133.

ADDED MONDAY NIGHT: Police finally released this: “On 4-24-2023 at 0103 hours, police responded to the 1400 block of SW Henderson on a home invasion robbery. The victim was asleep when she was awoken by the suspect who assaulted her, then stole her purse, keys, and vehicle. The suspect fled in the victim’s vehicle prior to police arrival and was not located.” The SFD log shows an engine was dispatched on a low-level response, so it appears the injuries were not major.

Two reader reports:

NEW HOT SPOT FOR ABANDONING STOLEN CARS? From Charlie:

Noticed this car on the corner of Myrtle and 47th AVE SW across from The Kenney property again. It is a Ford Fusion, light brown in color. The rear bumper is completely missing though the license plate is visible, WA CBX5707. The front bumper is also damaged along with the windshield and the driver side window is broken out. It has been sitting on this corner for nearly a day now according to the neighbor and efforts to contact the police have been fruitless. This is the second such vehicle to be dumped in the area and it seems like this is becoming a great place to drop stolen cars as the area is very quiet and it is unlikely to be observed after dark.

The previously dumped car was a white Hyundai Sonata left there last week, and Charlie reported making contact with both SPD and its owner, who retrieved their vehicle.

POSSIBLE PROWLING BYCATCH: Todd spotted this along Bonair in Upper Alki – mostly trash but a few things that might be bycatch from a car prowl, such as the Hyundai Tucson collateral and baseball notepad:

If any of this is yours, email us and we’ll connect you.

Charlie

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

SUITCASE GRABBER: If you see a dumped suitcase, it might be Kandie‘s:

My suitcase was stolen around 5:15 today right in front of my house at 34th and Myrtle while I was unloading my car. A maroon sedan w/dark tinted windows pulled up guy jumped out grabbed suitcase and they sped away. It contained 90 percent of my personal belongings, shoes, jewelry, clothes etc. – I couldn’t get a license plate in time. Picture is of the smaller suitcase for reference.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

The report has preliminary tracking number T2300848.

PACKAGE THIEF The report and photos are from Alan:

This person took 3 packages from our porch. About 11:00 am, which was 30 minutes after FedEx delivered one.

Dressed all in black, hat and face covering. Driver waited in the white car. Pigeon Point on 23rd Ave.

No report # yeet for that one or this one:

VANDALISM: A Highland Park resident reports her house was egged and wonders if it’s happened to anyone else recently. She wasn’t home when it happened so doesn’t have an exact time.

REMINDER: Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner has about 100 more steering-wheel locks to give away to Hyundai/Kia drivers at risk of theft, 2-4 pm Thursday at the precinct (Delridge/Webster). She says it only took about an hour and a half Saturday to give away that amount, and 50 people were in line when the giveaway started.

(SDOT camera image from shortly after crash)

Four weeks ago today, two 18-year-olds died in a crash on the West Seattle Bridge. They were killed early March 22nd by a wrong-way driver going eastbound on the westbound lanes. Readers have been asking what’s happened since then. The wrong-way driver, who survived, is still at Harborview Medical Center, listed in satisfactory condition. We don’t know much about him other than that he is 36 years old and has a West Seattle address. He is not yet charged, and the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is not commenting on the status of the case, but police have said he will be booked into the King County Jail when discharged from the hospital. There’s no indication of how soon that will happen, as we don’t have details of his injuries, just his condition. The victims, Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, have been lain to rest and remembered at a memorial service in Snohomish County.

Police are in The Junction looking for a bank robber. Sound Credit Union (4730 California SW) was hit about half an hour ago. The robber was initially described to officers as a white man in his 20s, 5’6″, medium build, wearing sunglasses, black sweatshirt, blue jeans, and red gloves, plus a backpack, last seen leaving on foot southbound. This is the second time that Sound Credit Union branch has been robbed this year; the first was in February, and according to archived police audio, employees told officers it might be the same robber this time.

This is the fourth Junction bank robbery of the year; the previous Sound CU holdup was preceded by two holdups at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) and at WaFD, two consecutive days in late January. … If you have any information on today’s robbery, the SPD incident # is 23-104784.

Another stolen car that you might be the one to spot – reported via email and text:

1998 Subaru Impreza was stolen this morning between 7 am and 8 am on California Ave outside PCC Market. Plate BQV0237. Stickers on rear windshield. Gold rims.

If you call in a sighting, refer to SPD incident # 23-103252.

The report and photo are from Kaley:

Our silver 2001 Honda CR-V was stolen again out of the alley behind our house on the 6700 block on 35th Ave SW. This was between 3:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.

Plate BTR3878; uncovered 5th wheel on the back. SPD incident # (refer to this if you call in a sighting) is 23-102358.

SUNDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Kaley says the car’s been found.

MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: Kaley says it has since been stolen again!

Three reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN JEEP WRANGLER: S was visiting West Seattle for a concert, not even here 12 hours, when this happened:

My Jeep YJ Wrangler was stolen in West Seattle. It happened on Thursday, April 13th, last seen 7:00 pm. It was parked at Dawson and 41st Ave SW. License plate # CHH6539. Police incident # 23-100664

PACKAGE THEFT: This report is from Nathan:

At 2:42 AM we had two packages stolen from our front porch (9600 block of 47th Ave SW). I’ve attached two pictures from our cameras of the thief (jeans, gray sweatshirt, blue hat with white lettering) and the car (silver sedan or station wagon driven by someone else).

A police report is filed with the initial tracking number T23008043.

CAR PROWLER INTERRUPTED: From Ellen:

Just wanted to put the word out there that our 2018 Kia Soul was involved in an attempted break in last night around 10:15 pm. We are at 36th and Brandon.

We heard a car door close while we were inside the home and went to look outside at what it was and saw a red four-door sedan pulled up close to our Kia parked on the street. So my husband went outside to see what was going on and the car took off. He later went to the driver-side door to see if anything happened and they busted out our key lock on that door attempting to get inside. Unsure if they planned to just rifle through the car or if they were going to steal the car (it is a Kia…). Glad we were still up to interrupt the perpetrator but still disheartening. Case number is 23-101722.

1:03 PM: Two weeks after Leticia Martinez-Cosman vanished, last seen leaving a Mariners’ game with a man now in jail, the search for her is over.

It’s been confirmed that she is the person found dead in Renton after investigators went there this past Tuesday – the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has just announced it plans to charge 46-year-old Brett M. Gitchel with second-degree murder for her death.

Gitchel is the man with whom she attended the Mariners’ game; he is already charged with kidnapping and trying to kill Ms. Martinez-Cosman’s 24-year-old special-needs son and then setting her car on fire hours later. A gun found in his car is the reason for another felony charge, as he is already a convicted felon and not supposed to possess one. In addition, as we first reported Wednesday, Gitchel is charged with committing a West Seattle burglary shown here in a Crime Watch reader report on March 28th.

Ms. Martinez-Cosman was known in West Seattle as owner of the Café Rozella coffee shop and community hub in South Delridge a decade ago. Checking the archives of our partner site White Center Now, we found this 2012 photo of her and her son, who had just achieved the honor roll at Madison Middle School:

Raising money for his future is the subject of crowdfunding. The newest page was set up by his uncle Ricardo Martinez; find it here.

Meantime, Gitchel remains in jail, bail set at $5,050,000, and is due in court to be arraigned April 24th. Information yet to be released includes the cause of Ms. Martinez-Cosman’s death.

2:57 PM: The Medical Examiner has just released that, saying she died by strangulation, and estimating the date of death as April 1st.

Two reader reports in West Seattle Crime Watch so far today:

STOLEN GREEN CR-V: Sent by Louis:

Our family vehicle (1999 Honda CR-V, Green, #AND2976) was stolen last night on 40th Ave SW between SW Dakota St and SW Genesee St. I found out the car was missing on my way to work this morning at 6:30 am. We have reported the theft to SPD and have a report number: 2023-99460.

This additional photo shows various stickers on the left rear window.

CAR PROWLER: From an anonymous reader: “Wanted to alert you to attempted car prowl/car theft at my house last night (car in the driveway!). The prowler(s) were unsuccessful but would be good to have more people alerted to be watchful. I can’t pin the exact time – but I was not in view of my car between 9 pm on 4/12/23 and 4:45 am on 4/13/23. I’m at Upper Fauntleroy neighborhood (40th Ave SW).”

REMINDER: Questions for local police, about a specific incident, trend, or … ? Your next chance to ask is tonight at 6 pm during the rescheduled Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council meeting, at the precinct (2300 SW Webster). If you want to attend by video or phone, we’ve now added that info to our calendar listing.

Two vehicle-theft related notes in West Seattle Crime Watch:

STOLEN PICKUP: From Alfredo:

My 2004 Toyota Tacoma was stolen yesterday 4/11/23 between 7:45 am-5 pm on 46th and Edmunds. If seen please call 911.

The plate in the photo is not fully legible so we’re waiting for an answer to our followup question about it, and will add that info when we get it.

FREE ANTI-THEFT DEVICES: Just announced by SPD:

In response to a rise in vehicle thefts involving certain Kia and Hyundai models, SPD’s Crime Prevention Coordinators will be giving away steering wheel locks at each of its five precincts this month. The devices are available at no charge to people who live or work in the City of Seattle, with a focus on those who own or lease a Kia or Hyundai vehicle.

Southwest Precinct – 2300 SW Webster Street:

April 15 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
April 20 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Due to limited availability, locks cannot be set aside or held. Only one lock allowed per person.

REMINDER: Speaking of the precinct, tomorrow night (April 13th) is the rescheduled Southwest Precinct Crime Prevention Council meeting, 6 pm.

10:36 AM: Two new developments in connection with the investigation of the disappearance of Leticia Martinez-Cosman:

First, Seattle Police confirm they found a person dead in Renton while investigating tips in . This was first reported late last night by KOMO TV, and a WSB reader pointed us to that story very early today; we have since confirmed the discovery with SPD – this is the statement sent by SPD spokesperson Det. Judinna Gulpan:

SPD Homicide Detectives followed leads obtained during the investigation which resulted in the recovery of a deceased subject in the Renton area Tuesday afternoon. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office will confirm the identity of the deceased and the cause and manner of death.

We have no further information to share at this time.

(The Medical Examiner usually releases information after 3 pm, so we might find out more later today.) Renton is also where Ms. Martinez-Cosman’s 24-year-old son told police he had escaped from a man who kidnapped and tried to kill him; that attack is the subject of some of the charges filed against Brett M. Gitchel, as reported here Monday. Police say Gitchel is the man last seen with her, at and leaving the March 31st Mariners game, and that he is the arsonist who torched her car, found burning on Beacon Hill. Gitchel remains in the King County Jail in lieu of $5,050,000 bail.

That additional $50,000 bail is because of another case filed against him – which we just discovered this morning while doublechecking Gitchel’s status. This one is the Genesee Hill burglary caught on video and originally published in WSB Crime Watch on March 28th, days before the disappearance. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Gitchel on Tuesday with second-degree burglary in that case. The victim also uploaded his security video with an SPD report and the charging documents say a detective viewing that video identified the intruder as Gitchel (as did WSB readers). Here’s the clip we published:

Meantime, in addition to the reader report we originally published, there is one additional detail – the burglary victim recalled seeing the same man, now identified as Gitchel, walking on his street the day before. We’ll add the narrative from these charging documents as soon as we can.

12:02 PM: Here’s that narrative, with the victim’s name and address references redacted:

Read More

Four notes in West Seattle Crime Watch – first, two followups:

MANSLAUGHTER SENTENCING: We reported in February on a plea bargain in a 2020 Delridge hit-run death. 40-year-old Steven J. Abrahamson now has been sentenced in the hit-run death of his longtime friend 34-year-old Derrick Lacomb. For first-degree manslaughter and hit-run, he will serve 9 1/2 years in prison, which is what prosecutors had recommended as part of the plea bargain.

CHARGES IN CHILD SEX ABUSE IMAGES CASE: Last month, we reported on an Upper Alki man arrested and accused of accessing child-sexual-abuse images online. He was charged less than two weeks later, but his case was filed under a misspelled surname so we didn’t find out about it until a reader tip. 37-year-old Robert M. Glass is charged with two felonies, Dealing in Depictions of Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct in the First Degree and one count of Possession of Depictions of Minor Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct in the First Degree. As previously described in court documents, investigators were tipped by an internet service provider that a particular user had accessed these types of illegal images in April of last year; subsequent online tracing by detectives led them to Glass. He pleaded not guilty at arraignment last week and remains out of jail after posting bond on $50,000 bail.

Also – two reader reports:

DRIVEWAY THEFT: Elena says this was the third time in 10 days that vandals/thieves have targeted her home in the Fairmount Park area:

We recently had our rooftop charge box stolen from our driveway off the alley. We took it off to wash our car and two minutes after we left, this guy came through and loaded it up. It was noon on a Friday, broad daylight.

After reviewing all our ring camera footage from the week we saw this same van roll through our alley 3 different times last week. His own cargo box has stickers all over it and seems fairly recognizable. I’d love to get this image out there to see if anyone knows where he lives or has a shot of his license plate so I can contact police. At minimum just make sure people are looking out for him.

The initial tracking number for the police report is T230077618.

PACKAGE THIEF FOLLOWING DELIVERY TRUCK: Also in the Fairmount Park area, Ben reported a package thief following a delivery truck, pinching a package within minutes:

It’s a package thief that followed behind the Amazon truck, and swapped an empty box with my package 6 minutes after Amazon dropped it off.

This happened on Sunday.

2:28 PM: Three days after initial word of what led police to 46-year-old Brett M. Gitchel in connection with the disappearance of Leticia Martinez-Cosman, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged him with Attempted Murder In The First Degree, Kidnapping In The First Degree, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the Second Degree, Theft In The First Degree, Arson In The Second Degree. (We obtained the 2014 mugshot of Gitchel at right from the state Department of Corrections.) The charging documents say authorities still don’t know Ms. Martinez-Cosman’s fate; the attempted murder and kidnapping charges come from what they say he did to her special-needs adult son, as detailed in the probable-cause narrative we published on Friday. The arson charge is related to what’s also described in Friday’s narrative, the fire set to destroy one of Ms. Martinez-Cosman’s cars, found burning on Beacon Hill. We’re still reading the rest of the charging documents and will add to this story shortly.

2:52 PM: Prosecutors are asking for $5 million bail. Their documents also include this, based on cell data:

Historical data records also show that on the early afternoon of 4/01/2023, about 15 hours after Leticia was last seen alive at the Mariners’ game, Brett drove outside of the City of Seattle into a remote mountainous region in King County, stayed for a short period of time and then returned to Seattle, where about 12 hours later he would kidnap and assault her son and burn her vehicle. Leticia Martinez-Cosman is still missing, and though extensive social, public, and national media have drawn attention to this incident, no one has been able to provide evidence of Leticia being alive after she left the Mariners game with Brett Michel Gitchel.

As for when they left, the detective’s narrative in the charging documents says:

Security footage provided by the Seattle Mariners and T-Mobile Park depict Leticia and Brett staying to the end of the game and around 2230 hours walking together out of the park and into a nearby parking garage, where they walk up the stairs to the 3rd floor and walk together toward the parked vehicles. This is the last known footage of Leticia.

The detective’s narrative also notes that a gun was found in Gitchel’s Audi after his arrest – that’s the reason for the unlawful-firearm-possession charge, as he is a convicted felon, with a record listed in the charging document as including seven felonies – three from 2014 related to stolen cars, an eluding conviction that same year, and three felonies in the 1990s – two for theft, one for drugs. One final note from the detective’s narrative details additional security video seen by police:

In the evening of Friday, April 7th, 2023, SPD Detectives were able to view video from a neighboring home of the Martinez-Cosman home for the first time. Detectives located video that depicted Brett Gitchel walking to the front Leticia’s home on 4/01/2023 at approximately 1157 hours. Brett is alone and walks to the front of Leticia’s house out of the video frame and then about 13 seconds later walks back through the neighbor’s video frame away from Leticia’s home. This video footage depicts Brett at Leticia’s home, without her, approximately 13 1⁄2 hours after Leticia is seen leaving with him on the Mariners T-Mobile Park security video.

On Monday, April 10, 2023, SPD Detectives were able to locate and recover surveillance video from the Shell station at 2424 Beacon Av S. Video recovered included the date of 4/02/2023 where after 0600 hours Brett is depicted driving his 1999 tan Audi into the Shell station lot, parking near the gas pumps, removing a light colored jacket and placing it in the garbage, entering the Shell station and purchasing a new red 1 gallon portable gas canister in one transaction, going back and purchasing a lighter in a second transaction, returning to the pumps and filling the canister with fuel,
and then driving away in a northbound direction on 14 Av S. The timing of this activity is approximately 2 hours
after (Leticia’s son) escaped from Brett in Renton and a little more than 30 minutes before SFD responded to 904 Golf Dr S to extinguish Leticia’s burning vehicle.

The document does not elaborate on the “remote mountainous area” to which investigators believe Gitchel briefly drove. It does list a different “last known address” for him – last week’s document said Federal Way, but this one says Orting. Gitchel’s next scheduled court appearance is for arraignment – to enter pleas – on April 24th. Prosecutors note that the SPD investigation remains ongoing, so more charges are a possibility.

In West Seattle Crime Watch, Michael reports his truck was taken in Gatewood:

1996 Ford F-250. Stolen from driveway near SW Webster and 37th Av SW at 5:58 AM. Plate # C56184L.

The SPD incident # is 23-95772.