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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Cold Case Homicide Arrest
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
11/2/2006 10:00:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeff Kappel (206) 684-5520
Police Media Relations (206) 684-5520
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Cold Case Homicide Arrest
SEATTLE – The arrest stems from investigations into homicides dating back to the 1970s. Investigators have diligently pursued new leads, developed credible witnesses, and have benefited significantly from the application of modern laboratory technologies to existing evidence.
Detectives from the Seattle Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, Yakima Sheriff’s Office and FBI are working collaboratively on the cases. They are part of a multi-agency group that focuses on organized, violent, criminal activity.
September 6, 1975 Homicide:
Everett “Fritz” Fretland was the owner of the Wagon Wheel Restaurant and Bar in Selah, Washington. In the early morning hours of September 6, 1975, Fretland was found shot to death on the floor inside the bar. He was shot several times, and was 43 years old at the time of his death.
Gary Charles Isaacs, a 56-year old Everett man was arrested for the homicide during the early afternoon hours of November 1, 2006. Isaacs was arrested in Everett without incident and has since been booked into King County Jail. Although Isaacs was considered a suspect early on in the investigation, there was insufficient evidence for charges at the time.
During the year 2005, investigators working other unsolved homicides discovered that the murder of Everett Fretland in Selah bore distinct similarities to a double murder committed in King County two months later. On November 3, 1975, Frank Hinkley and his friend Barbara Rosenfield were shot to death at Hinkley's place of business, a strip club called the Bear Cave. It appeared that Hinkley knew the killer(s) because they were admitted to the bar when it was closed, at the time Hinkley was known by acquaintances to go there and do paperwork.
November 3, 1975 Homicides:
In February this group of detectives arrested James Braman in Oregon for the death of Frank “Sharkey” Hinkley and Barbara Rosenfeld. Both were shot and killed in November 1975 at the Bear Cave Tavern in south Seattle. Braman apparently committed suicide a few days after his arrest.
The investigation is continuing in these cases, and other arrests are possible.
We are requesting that anyone who has any information concerning these crimes contact the Seattle Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, telephone (206) 409-2282.
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