EVERETT, Washington — A lab report that was unsealed after a jury convicted a Washington state man in the killings of a young Saanich couple shows investigators found more DNA evidence linking the suspect to the crime.
Talbott was found guilty June 28 of the murders of 18-year-old Tanya Van Cuylenborg and 20-year-old Jay Cook.
The Daily Herald, based in Everett, Washington, reported Monday that the DNA of William Earl Talbott II was found on zip ties discovered at the crime scene. It was already known that police had preserved DNA evidence recovered from Van Cuylenborg’s body and pants, and linked it to Talbott.
Van Cuylenborg and Cook went missing in November 1987 after leaving Saanich for what was to be an overnight trip to Seattle. Their bodies were found about a week later in northwestern Washington state.
Talbott, who was 24 at the time the killings occurred, was convicted after members of his family left a DNA trail on a genetic genealogy website.
Defence attorney Jon Scott has asked for a new trial for Talbott. A judge is set to consider the request Wednesday.
