On August 23, 1972, 19-year-old Jody Loomis left her Bothell, Washington home on her white 10-speed bike to ride her horse, Saudi. She borrowed waffle-stomper boots from her 12-year-old sister Jana. A couple found her gravely injured in woods: shot in head with .22-caliber gun, sexually assaulted, no ID, glasses askew, one boot untied. She died en route to hospital. Theory: Forced at gunpoint, raped, shot while dressing.
Investigation Stalls
Suspects included local ranch owner (prior inappropriate behavior) and wood-chopping tenant, but no witnesses or evidence. Case went cold.
Breakthrough via DNA
- 2005: Detective Jim Scharf reopens; trace DNA on Jody’s boot yields profile—no CODIS match.
- 2018: Genetic genealogy traces to Miller family. Terrence “Terry” Miller (local with sexual violence history) matched via discarded coffee cup DNA.
- 2019: 78-year-old Miller charged with first-degree murder, 46 years later.
Trial Outcome
October 2020 trial. On November 6, jurors deliberate; Miller dies by suicide via gunshot. Hours later, unaware jury returns guilty verdict. Judge affirms guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Jana Loomis gets closure from the boots she lent. Episode “My Sister’s Boots” airs March 2, 2026, on Investigation Discovery—shows power of genetic genealogy in cold cases.
