Police Department

Spokane Police Department Makes Arrest in a Decades Old Homicide

Officer T. Leming, PIO

Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 4:56 p.m.

On November 4th, 1986 at about 7:38 A.M., Spokane police officers responded to an alley near S. Ivory St and E. Pacific Ave for a report of a person down in the roadway. Upon arrival, the officers instead discovered a deceased female in the alley nearby. The female was identified as 32-year-old Mary Ann Turner, and it was evident to investigators she had been murdered.

After investigating for nearly four decades, detectives developed probable cause to charge 74-year-old David Tibbett with Second Degree Murder through DNA evidence in conjunction with witness statements made early in the investigation. This arrest is not possible without the partnerships and efforts from the WSP Crime Lab, Othram, and the Spokane County Prosecutors Office.

On October 21st, 2026, detectives with the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) and Special Investigations Unit (SIU) served a search warrant on the home of Tibbett.  Tibbett was taken into custody and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Second Degree Murder.

The investigation into the death of Mary Ann Turner is ongoing.  

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