Unsolved Homicide - Robyn Kenworthy - 1988

Unsolved Homicide

Robyn Maria Kenworthy
Age - 20

Family members last spoke with Robyn on September 28, 1988.
Robyn had been working as a stripper in Seattle and King County, sometimes using the names Venus and Ginger. She was known to hang around Pioneer Square, the Fremont Fellowship, and "the Ave" in the University District of Seattle. She was also known to use heroin and work as a prostitute. The last time her mother Judy Kenworthy spoke with Robyn, she said Robyn sounded worn out and was asking to come home. Robyn planned to get on a bus from Aurora Ave., but her mother didn't hear from her again.

On October 22, 1988, Robyn's body was found naked and partially hidden under logs and other forest debris. The area was an old logged off clearcut, east of Gold Bar and just to the north of Index in southeast Snohomish County. The location is 11 miles up Reiter road and Deer Flats road, which is off Highway 2. Reiter road for many years has been a destination for locals to go ride motorcycles and off road vehicles, party, camp and hike. Recently the area has been in the first stages of becoming a managed park due to the need for protection of the sensitive forested areas.

At the time Robyn was found, the Snohomish County police were nearly four months into investigating the Jennifer Burnetto homicide, and the two women's cases were looking linked. It would be another couple of years before it was finally released, after media speculation, that not just one serial killer was leaving murder victims in the area but "2-3". 2-3 that have still not been caught.

The cases were looked at in connection to Gary Ridgeway, the Green River Killer, but he did not plea to any Snohomish County cases, he maintains that all the women he brutally killed he did so within King County. Despite Robyn and Jennifer being left in a similar way Gary Ridgeway was known for, hidden in a forested area off a highway, he has not been charged.

One of the few potential leads came in May 1990, when a couple driving along a mountain road northeast of Index spotted a man near where the victims' bodies had earlier been dumped. The couple said they spotted a limp woman's hand and arm sticking out of the Jeep-type vehicle the man was driving. The man was obviously startled. He apparently hadn't heard the approaching car because of a creek nearby. The couple contacted police. A sketch was done and a search was conducted in the area of the sighting, but no evidence was found.

The man was described as white, in his late 30s to early 40s, with a stocky build and a bushy mustache.

Robyn's case is currently featured on the Snohomish County Cold Case Cards, a deck of cards provided to inmates in the hopes they will lead to a relevant tip. The Herald, a Snohomish County newspaper that has recently highlighted the cold case cards, spoke with Robyn's mother last May. While Judy made clear to the Herald that she didn't expect the killer will be caught, she also expressed hope that the media attention of her daughters case will warn others about the dangers of drug addiction.

"Maybe someone else will find some way to save another child," Judy Kenworthy said. "If it gets through to even one, it's worthwhile.".

Robyn's case is on the King of Clubs or #3 on the Herald's cold case card listing.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. CrimeStoppers offers rewards up to $1000.00 for information leading to conviction. You may remain anonymous. Tips can also be left with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office

Unsolved Homicide Patrick Cress

In 1983, 14 year old Patrick Cress lived in the Kingsgate area of Kirkland, Washington. Kingsgate could be described as a well planned community of several neighborhoods of homes with parks, pools, playgrounds, fields, and schools built into the middle of each. It also has lots of small forested areas. It is a place that still to this day is a fairly safe middle class neighborhood where childhood memories are sweet. This is why Patrick's death still leaves such a mark on all those who lived nearby at the time of his murder.

On Saturday April 30th, 1983, Patrick was supposed to meet his father to get a ride home after staying over at a friends house for the night. His friends house was in a neighborhood called Juanita which is to the west of Kingsgate. Since his parents didn't know the neighborhood very well they had agreed to meet Patrick at the Juanita Safeway. Patrick had called for his ride at about 12:30pm before he left his friends house to go to the Safeway. Patrick called home once again and asked his sister if his ride had left yet. When she said it had, he told her that he would see her soon.

When Patrick wasn't at the Safeway as planned his father found it strange that he was late because normally Patrick was early and certainly prompt. Patrick was also a kid who liked to be at home and wasn't prone to hanging around. By 6pm that evening Patrick was reported missing to the police. When a policeman arrived at the family home the parents were told that Patrick probably just ran away. They were then instructed to call the police department when they heard from him.

Despite word spreading fast and his parents searching, Patrick was not found. Within a week rumors were heard among people in the area that Patrick had been killed. Nearly three weeks later this rumor proved to be true, down to the details. On the south end of Kingsgate a Puget Power employee doing work near 132nd St and 116th Way NE, found Patrick in a wooded area, laying in ditch and covered by grassy debris. He had been struck in the head resulting in multiple skull fractures. Police have confirmed he was struck with an object but what that object is has not been released. The area was a well known hang out spot for local teenagers and had been under construction nearby. The accurate rumor was traced back to a Kamiakin Junior High party but not all the way to the source.

There appears to be people who witnessed or were told by the murderer what had happened. Two of those may be named Michelle and Kim. Investigators have a note from the case file, unsure where it originally came from since it wasn't noted that says - "To Michelle, From Kim, It's Important! It's a slight possibility the police don't know yet so don't tell 'cause that would might be wrong.".

I hope the people from Kingsgate who know what happened step up and do the right thing. Those of us who were touched by this can help to get this solved and prosecuted by reminding our family and friends that Patrick's family still waits for justice. Patrick's family and the current investigator on this case persevere. Recently, they had fliers passed out at a school reunion and also were in the media with the new details about the rumor and note. They are asking anyone who lived in the area, particularly those who went to the schools and recall any details about the homicide or the rumors to call Detective Mike Mellis at 206-296-7470

King County Sheriff Cold Cases
(Patrick's case is at the bottom)