For this episode, I had originally planned on telling multiple, shorter stories. Then I read one article:

GI’s plead not guilty in murder hearings

Two Ft. Lewis soldiers pleaded innocent in Superior Court today to unrelated first-degree murder charges stemming from the deaths last week of another soldier and a 28 year old Graham housewife.

Steven Paul Criss, 19, offered his plea in the slaying last Thursday of Jacob Kim Brown, 22, an Army infantryman, whose bullet-riddled body was found in a ditch near Roy later in the day.

Brown was reported to have left his Olympia home to meet a man for discussion of a debt.

Trial of Criss was scheduled for November 29 by Judge James V. Ramsdell, who refused to set bail.

Also pleading innocent was Sgt. 1C Richard Michael Wallingford, 33, of E. Madison St. who was accused of the gunshot slaying last Wednesday of Cindy Ann Barajas of 119th Ave E. Graham. Mrs. Barajas had been shot in the back of the head.

Wallingford, whose arraignment was continued last Friday when he appeared in court in an apparently dissociative state, was scheduled for trial November 22. Bail was denied.

Attorneys told the court Friday that the defendant had refused to give authorities anything more than his name, rank and service serial number.

Putting those key names into the Newspapers.com search engine, I was able to find the details surrounding both unusual cases and decided I would tell those stories. Finding these cases, featuring stories of victims I’ve never heard of or read about is one of my favorite aspects of using Newspapers.com. Today I’ll be telling you the stories of Jacob Brown, Peter Zito Jr., Donald Barton and Cindy Barajas- the forgotten victims, lost to the back page.

For more details and photos, you can visit our blog at Murderintherain.com

Oregon Journal Thu, Oct 03, 1974 · Two Teenagers Shot Dead On Oak Hills Parking Lot - Detectives suspect decades-old disappearance, murder are intertwined | Forest Grove News-Times - The News Tribune - October 12 1976 - Obituaries - The News Tribune Sat, Oct 09, 1976 - Olympian Slain, Tacoman Held - The News Tribune Fri, Dec 10, 1976 -Army gives GI life for murder - KIRO-Killer Army vet charged in 1974 double murder of Oregon teens - Cold Case Solved: Man Arrested for 1974 Murders of Two Teenagers | Washington County, OR - Looking into the Unforeseen with a Local Author - Seeking Justice for 1974 Murder - The News Tribune Tue, Oct 12, 1976 - GI's Plead Not Guilty in Murder Hearings - The Spokesman Review Sept. 15 1962 - Weddings - 47° 4' 57.4028" N 122° 35' 53.3814" W - The News Tribune October 7 1976- A Daughter's Murder a Father's Grief - The News Tribune October 7 1976 - Solider Held in Fatal Shooting of Woman - The News Tribune October 7 1976 - Portrait of a Father's Grief - Spokane Chronicle December 20 1960- Entering Military - Spokane Chronicle Sept. 10 1962- Weddings - Spokane Chronicle May 3 1978- Courts - Cynthia Ann Woods Barajas (1947-1976) - Find a Grave Memorial - The News Tribune Fri, Oct 08, 1976- Obituaries - The News Tribune Thu, Oct 07, 1976 - Solider held in fatal shooting of woman - Tri-City Herald Sun, Oct 10, 1976 - Defendant gives name, rank, serial number - The News Tribune Sat, Oct 09, 1976 - Silent Suspect Gets Continuance - The News Tribune Fri, Oct 29, 1976- Murder Trial Reset - The News Tribune Mon, Jan 10, 1977 - Sergeant stands trial for death of young woman - The News Tribune Tue, Jan 11, 1977 - Defense will claim insanity - The News Tribune Thu, Jan 13, 1977 - Suspect threatened to kill self - The News Tribune Wed, Jan 12, 1977 - Gasoline-Soaked Wallingford admitted killing, deputy testifies -The News Tribune Mon, Jan 24, 1977 - Cindy Ann and Steve- who speaks for them?The News -Tribune Mon, Jan 24, 1977 - GI Murder Sentence Delayed - The News Tribune Thu, Jan 27, 1977- convicted murder given life sentence

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