Police Department

Cold Case Murder Suspect Arrested

Julie Humphreys, Communications Manager, 509.625.5868

Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 2:05 p.m.

Update 5/31/23:

Cold case murder suspect, Tracy Pruitt died in the Spokane County Jail while awaiting trial. According to the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office, the manner of death was natural causes. With Pruitt’s death, earlier this month, the Spokane County Prosecutors Office submitted a request to drop the murder charge against him. Pruitt is accused of killing Spokane businessman Archie Rutherford in 1982. SPD detectives developed probable cause to arrest Pruitt for the murder based on both DNA evidence and witness testimony. He was charged with aggravated 1^st degree murder. Pruitt’s death means Rutherford’s murder case is closed as investigators reviewing all of the evidence concluded Pruitt was the only suspect in the murder.

Original release 11/9/22:

Suspect in 1982 murder in Spokane arrested in California

SPD Major Crimes detectives working on a 40 year old cold case developed probable cause to arrest a man who now lives in Los Angeles, California.  Detectives traveled to LA and on 10/27/22 joined LAPD officers in the arrest of 62 year old Tracy Sabron Pruitt on Fugitive charges.  The arrest stems from a 1^st Degree Murder warrant issued by Spokane County District Court on 10/14/22. 

On 5/25/1982, a 58 year old Spokane businessman was found murdered in his South Hill home by his wife.  Archie Rutherford suffered fatal stab wounds, a skull fracture, and was discovered with an electrical cord tied around his neck.  Spokane Police investigated the murder but did not make any arrests.  Pruitt was arrested in Ohio for an unrelated rape and robbery charge later that year. He was convicted for those crimes and spent 27 years in prison.

Pruitt remains in custody in California awaiting extradition. The extradition process may take several months to determine if and when the state of California will relinquish custody of Pruitt to Washington.  The Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office is assisting in this effort. 

SPD appreciates the assistance of the LAPD FBI Fugitive Task Force in apprehending Pruitt. 

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