Modern DNA analysis has helped identify the killer in a 40-year-old cold case in Wenatchee, Washington. The culprit turned out to be a Kamloops man who died nearly two decades ago.
The 1986 Murder
On May 14, 1986, the body of Carol Traicoff was discovered behind a community centre in Wenatchee, a small city in north-central Washington state. She had been the victim of a fatal assault. The Wenatchee Police Department gathered evidence and conducted an investigation, but no suspect was identified, and the homicide remained unsolved for decades.
Renewed Investigation
In early 2023, retired detective sergeant Ryan Weatherman took up the case and had the evidence reviewed by a forensic scientist using modern techniques. These tests led to the isolation of DNA from an unknown man. Weatherman arranged funding for further genealogical testing, and in July 2024, the DNA was analyzed by the U.S. company Ortham. By the end of that year, testing had revealed a possible family lineage and a rough geographical area where the suspect might have lived.
Identifying Henry Leland
The DNA was shared with a testing facility in Canada for comparison, and those tests zeroed in on Henry Leland, a former Kamloops resident. Leland, a homeless man for whom a housing facility in Kamloops is named, died in 2007. Another Wenatchee police detective, Brian Hewitt, tracked down Leland's sister in Gold Bar, Washington. She cooperated with the investigation and provided her DNA for comparison, which further confirmed the match with her brother.
Case Closed
Police announced the breakthrough exactly 40 years after the murder. Based on the investigation, it is believed that on or around May 14, 1986, Henry B. Leland killed Carol Traicoff. There is no current evidence to suggest another suspect, and it is believed that Leland and Traicoff were alone at the time. The investigation is officially closed.
Background on Henry Leland
In 2009, a transitional housing facility in Kamloops was renamed Henry Leland House to honour the memory of Henry Leland, an Aboriginal man who lived on the streets of Kamloops for many years. He was regarded by the community as a kind soul and unfortunately passed away in December 2007 due to exposure. ASK Wellness now operates Henry Leland House. Its executive officer, Bob Hughes, said the agency is working with First Nations in light of the surprising development. We will be connecting with Tk'emlups and Skeetchestn Elders for guidance after all these years, he told Castanet.
