The mystery surrounding the identity of a woman who was tragically murdered in Yakima 47 years ago has finally been solved.
In a recent announcement at City Hall on July 2, Yakima Police revealed that the woman has been identified as Vereta Joni Gates.
Vereta Joni Gates was discovered dead and naked, in a Chevy Apache pickup near Yakima Hardware on July 25, 1977.
Her body, badly decomposed after several weeks, showed signs of violent sexual assault, according to Yakima Police.
At the time of her death, Gates was approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed around 130 pounds.
Despite this, no personal identification was found with her remains.
An autopsy determined she was between 18 and 25 years old and had died from strangulation.
For decades, detectives tirelessly worked to uncover Gates' identity.
In 2004, her body was exhumed, and samples from tissues and fingernails were sent to the Washington State Patrol in hopes of extracting DNA.
Recently, the Othram Corporation, specializing in DNA analysis for cold cases, successfully matched a DNA sample from Gates to that of a living brother in May 2024, conclusively identifying her.
According to the YPD's statement, Gates was known to her family for hitchhiking between the East and West Coasts.
She was last seen alive in a Chicago hospital a few weeks before her tragic discovery in Yakima.
Now identified, Vereta Joni Gates' remains will be returned to her family in Vermont.
Despite this closure, her killer remains unidentified and at large.
Yakima Police continue to investigate with minimal evidence and no current suspects.
If you have any information regarding this case, please reach out to Yakima PD.
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