David Tibbett Pleads Not Guilty in 1986 Murder Case
The 74-year-old defendant faces charges related to the 1986 strangulation death of Mary Ann Turner in Spokane.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Sex Crimes
David Tibbett pleaded not guilty to the 1986 murder of Mary Ann Turner during a court hearing in Spokane. Detectives linked Tibbett to the decades-old crime using DNA evidence recovered from the victim's fingernail clippings.
Why it matters
The case highlights how advancements in genetic genealogy and forensic investigative techniques can resolve cold cases that remained unsolved for nearly forty years.
David Tibbett is currently being held on a $1 million bond while awaiting trial. The court has scheduled the trial proceedings to begin in December 2026.
The players
David Tibbett
He is a 74-year-old man with a criminal history of sexual assault who has been charged in connection with a 1986 cold case murder.
Mary Ann Turner
She was the victim of a 1986 homicide in east Spokane who was identified through forensic DNA evidence preserved on her fingernail clippings.
Spokane Police
This local law enforcement agency investigated the cold case and utilized a ruse to obtain a DNA sample from the suspect.
Othram lab
Based in Texas, this private laboratory specializes in forensic genetic genealogy used to identify suspects in long-unsolved criminal cases.
The details
Spokane Police identified Tibbett by working with the Othram lab in Texas to examine three potential suspects. To secure a DNA sample, investigators used a ruse involving a letter regarding a previously reported stolen car to get the suspect to lick an envelope.
Timeline
Mary Ann Turner was murdered in 1986 in east Spokane.
Detectives began working with the Othram lab in late 2025.
David Tibbett entered a not guilty plea on October 27, 2026.
The trial is scheduled to begin in December 2026.
Legal Context
This case follows the investigative pattern established by the 2018 Golden State Killer identification where genetic genealogy is used to solve cold cases. It underscores a broader trend where cold case squads utilize forensic technology to re-examine evidence decades after the original crime.
This development brings potential closure to a 1986 murder that remained an open investigation in the Spokane community for decades. Residents may observe increased court activity as the legal proceedings move toward the scheduled trial date.
The takeaway
This case serves as a reminder that law enforcement agencies continue to revisit cold cases as new forensic technologies emerge. Families of victims in unsolved cases can maintain hope that evolving scientific methods may eventually bring accountability to perpetrators.
What happens next
The trial for David Tibbett is scheduled to begin in December 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local investigations in the Sex Crimes section.
