Nearly four decades of mystery surrounding the murder of an Everett woman have come to an unforeseen conclusion as police announced the arrest of a suspect, thanks to new DNA evidence shedding light on the 1984 cold case homicide. Judith "Judy" Weaver, who was 42 at the time, met her untimely death in her home on Rucker Avenue, a crime scene initially stumbled upon by responders to a fire, as KING5 News reported.

On Wednesday, Mitchell Gaff was taken into custody, and he is now facing a slew of charges, including first-degree murder, arson, burglary, rape, and kidnapping connected to the heinous crime. Everett Police Chief John DeRousse praised the dedication that led to the suspect's capture, particularly highlighting Detective Susan Logothetti's pivotal role, “We are incredibly proud of Det. Susan Logothetti for her effort and persistence, which ultimately led to the identification and arrest of this suspect,” DeRousse remarked in a statement obtained by KIRO 7.

Born and raised in Everett and a well-known figure, Weaver was once a beauty pageant queen at 17 and later co-owned a business on Hewitt Avenue, a short walk from where she was murdered. Weaver was remembered by many as street-smart, keeping a firearm at the Bell-Ness Cafe for protection when counting the restaurant's earnings, KOMO News detailed.

Charges against Gaff have been officially filed in Snohomish County Superior Court, where the legal procedures will continue to unfold.