FRANKLIN COUNTY, Wash. – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) has announced a breakthrough in the decades-old murder case of Ivah McDonnell, who was found dead in her home on Pasco’s Sylvester Street in December 1971.
FCSO said in a new press release that Sheriff Richard Boyles led the initial investigation, during which numerous pieces of evidence were collected, and several suspects were identified. Despite interviewing approximately 14 suspects over the years, no arrests were made at the time.
In 2022, FCSO, with the help from the Pasco Police Department, resubmitted DNA evidence using the latest advancements in forensic technology. This led to a positive match in 2023, identifying Samuel Evans as the suspect, FCSO said. Evans, who had a lengthy criminal history including convictions for murder, manslaughter, rape, and burglary, had already died in prison.
According to the release, the Washington State Patrol’s Forensics section confirmed that Evans’ DNA was found on a ligature device used in McDonnell’s murder and that investigators also discovered a connection between McDonnell and Evans through a mutual friend.
McDonnell’s relatives have been informed of the case’s resolution, and the Sheriff’s Office extended their deepest condolences to the family, FCSO added.
Franklin County currently has 11 unsolved homicides, several of which are cold cases. The Sheriff’s Office said it’s reviewing these cases for potential forensic DNA work.
