Man arrested decades later in wife’s cold case killing
A man was detained at a nursing facility in Washington on charges of first-degree murder
A 68-year-old individual was detained at a nursing facility in Washington on charges of first-degree murder related to his wife's 1992 death.
Janice Randle was discovered deceased in her bed in November 1992, as reported by the Pierce County Sheriff's Office on social media, with her young daughter Katie asleep in a crib nearby.
Her separated spouse, James Robert Randle, informed authorities that she possibly overdosed and noted her past use of painkillers.
The couple was in the midst of a divorce and living apart, the sheriff's office explained.
The case initially appeared to be an overdose. Later autopsy findings, which showed an absence of drugs in her system at her time of death, shifted the case towards a homicide investigation, though "only small pieces of information were available, insufficient to form a probable cause for an arrest," as stated by the sheriff's office.
The case remained unresolved until relatives provided fresh insights, such as "confessing witnesses" from Randle, according to the sheriff's office.
CBS affiliate KIRO reported that Randle had admitted to murdering his wife during talks with his siblings and one of his children.
"He actually shared with his brother how he arranged the scene to look like a crime," a deputy prosecutor mentioned in court, as reported by KIRO. "He also later confessed the killing to one of his daughters.
He told her that he had to cover Janice's head with a pillow, stating, 'Just be aware, it was me.'"
The sheriff's office said the tips and new information "prompted a comprehensive review with a fresh outlook."
Police now suspect that Janice Randle "passed away due to a violent conflict" with Randle, with new evidence collected that "disproves the initial claims made in 1992."
This allowed authorities to establish probable cause for Randle's arrest, who was residing in an Everett, Washington retirement facility.
Body camera footage depicts police detaining Randle, now 68, at the location. He is heard inquiring, "What's the reason for this?" before being handcuffed and escorted to a vehicle.
Randle went to court on Thursday, pleading not guilty to the first-degree murder charge, KIRO reported.
He is under a $1 million bail, as noted by KIRO. The sheriff's office remarked that the case "serves as a strong reminder of how technological and investigative advancements can deliver justice, even after many years."