Appeals Court Affirmed Murder Conviction of Richard Aguirre
The Washington Court of Appeals upheld the 25-year sentence for a 1986 murder case in Spokane.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Sex Crimes
On September 10, 2026, the Washington Court of Appeals Division III affirmed the first-degree murder conviction of 62-year-old Richard Aguirre. Aguirre was found guilty in 2023 for the 1986 death of 27-year-old Ruby Doss in Spokane.
Why it matters
The ruling concludes a long-running legal process involving DNA identification that occurred nearly three decades after the crime. The court found that DNA evidence and details regarding the crime scene were sufficient to support the conviction.
The appeals court upheld a 25-year prison sentence for the former Fairchild Air Force Base airman. It rejected specific legal challenges regarding the DNA evidence chain of custody and alleged contamination.
The players
Richard Aguirre
He is a 62-year-old former airman who was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base.
Ruby Doss
She was a 27-year-old woman who was found dead in Spokane in 1986.
Washington Court of Appeals Division III
This is the judicial body that reviewed and ultimately affirmed the murder conviction.
The details
Investigators matched DNA to Aguirre in 2015 after identifying a profile in the Combined DNA Index System. Prosecutors argued that the distance between a struggle site and where Doss was found, totaling 200 feet, indicated premeditation.
Timeline
Ruby Doss was killed in Spokane in 1986.
Ruby Doss was found dead on January 30, 1986.
Police identified a DNA match to Aguirre in January 2015.
Richard Aguirre was convicted at a bench trial in 2023.
The appeals court affirmed the conviction on September 10, 2026.
Legal Context
This case reflects the ongoing trend of cold cases being resolved through the application of modern DNA technology to decades-old crime scene samples. The ruling affirms the judicial validity of using long-term stored evidence to secure convictions in historical cases.
The finality of this appellate ruling ensures the closure of a high-profile case that remained open for decades in the local community. It serves as a reminder to the public of the long-term reach of investigative tools like DNA indexing in criminal prosecution.
The takeaway
This case underscores how forensic advancements can bridge the gap between historical crimes and modern judicial accountability. It highlights the importance of evidence preservation in enabling successful prosecutions long after an incident occurs.
Further reading
For more information on legal proceedings, visit the Spokane Sex Crimes section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cheney Free Press.
