Spokane Evidence Facility Maintains Massive Collection

The 64,000-square-foot facility houses 175,000 items ranging from paperwork to vehicles used in local criminal cases.

Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Property Crime

Spokane Evidence Facility Maintains Massive Collection

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The Spokane property evidence facility manages a vast inventory of 175,000 items collected from local criminal investigations. This facility serves as a long-term storage site for evidence that may be required for ongoing legal appeals or future court proceedings.

Why it matters

Maintaining an organized system for evidence is critical for upholding judicial integrity and ensuring that materials are preserved for potential crime lab analysis or prosecution requirements. The facility ensures that case-related items remain secure throughout the entire lifecycle of a legal investigation.

The facility maintains a 64,000-square-foot space housing 175,000 total items. It processes approximately 3,000 new pieces of evidence each month, with the oldest case file dating back to 1962.

The players

Gary Ault

He was convicted of the 2022 murder of Richard Purdy in Deer Park.

Richard Purdy

He was a victim of a homicide in Deer Park in December 2022.

The details

Staff at the site categorize items spanning from mundane paperwork to entire vehicles. When cases conclude or items are no longer needed for legal proceedings, the office works to notify original owners or victims' families before potentially destroying or auctioning unclaimed property.

Evidence collection at the facility dates back as far as 1962.
The facility processes approximately 3,000 new items every month.
A notable case involved in evidence tracking is the 2022 murder of Richard Purdy.

Legal Context

This facility functions as a repository for evidence that must be secured long after a conviction, such as in the 2022 murder of Richard Purdy. It demonstrates how municipal authorities must reconcile indefinite storage needs with the practical limits of physical space.

The facility ensures that evidence remains preserved, which allows for potential re-testing or verification if legal appeals arise. Residents benefit from this systematic storage as it ensures that criminal investigations remain thorough and procedurally sound over many decades.

The takeaway

The management of 175,000 items highlights the immense logistical effort required to maintain a functioning criminal justice system. Property owners or families of victims should contact the facility if they believe they have unclaimed items eligible for release.