"The vast majority of the murders are gunshots, knife wounds, and blunt trauma. Strangulation is not one of the top ways. When strangulation is involved, it's common that it is the same person because they get off on it for some reason." — Detective Kip Hollenbeck
"He told me he was married in 1986 to another member of the Air Force. He told me he was upset because the Air Force wasn't going to send her with him when he was deployed to South Korea. He told me he was deployed in February of 1986." — Lead Investigator Kip Hollenbeck
"Recent DNA results raise significant evidentiary issues. Therefore, in the interest of justice, it is respectfully requested that the above-named matter be dismissed without prejudice." — Prosecution's Motion to Dismiss
The episode chronicles the investigation into the 1986 murder of Ruby Jean Doss, a sex worker found strangled in Spokane, Washington. Initial investigations yielded few leads, with evidence including a used condom found near the body. The case gained broader attention as other women, some also sex workers, were found murdered in Spokane over the following 20 months, though authorities did not initially connect them as the work of a single serial killer. Decades later, a DNA match from the used condom found at Ruby's crime scene, discovered in 2015, identified Richard Agarri, a former U.S. Air Force member stationed near Spokane at the time of the murder.
Agarri, who had since become a police officer, was arrested and charged with Ruby's murder. The investigation revealed disturbing elements, including thousands of explicit photos and videos on his phone, suggesting other potential crimes, and statements from a friend indicating Agarri had admitted to assaulting a woman. Agarri's defense team attempted to establish an alibi, claiming he was deployed to South Korea at the time of the murder, presenting Air Force records. However, prosecution countered with evidence suggesting he received medical care in Spokane shortly before the murder and that his own statements to others implied his presence in Spokane.
The legal proceedings have been protracted, marked by dropped charges, refiled charges based on new DNA analysis of the condom's preserved envelope, and a mistrial due to a deadlocked jury. The DNA evidence, initially considered crucial, faced challenges regarding the integrity of the evidence due to the original condom's destruction during testing. Despite the complexities and delays, the case remains a focal point, with new trials scheduled, underscoring the persistent pursuit of justice for Ruby Jean Doss and the impact of evolving forensic capabilities.