Hey folks, on October 27th at noon we were on hand for the 1st UW Memorial Walk for victims of domestic violence. It was a powerful event and we snapped up a few photos in case you missed it. A big thank you to the Sexual Assault & Relationship Violence Information Service (SARIS) at the UW, the UW Police Department, Michele Puckhaber who compiled the stories below and everyone who came out in support.
The six students/staff/faculty we remembered:
April 2, 2007- Rebecca Griego, 26 - Gould Hall
"Rebecca was a program coordinator at the college of Architecture and Urban Planning. On April 2, 2007, her ex-boyfriend, Jonathan Rowan walked into her fourth floor office and shot Rebecca and then shot and killed himself. Rebecca had been stalked by Jonathan for months before her slaying. She had taken actions to protect herself from Jonathan including obtaining a Domestic Violence Protection Order, moving from her apartment and changing her phone number."
July 25, 1989 - Marjan Mohseninia, 18 and Ebrahim Sharif-Kashani, 27 - Between Denny and Balmer Halls
"Marjan Mohseninia was a freshman at the University of Washington. She had recently left California in an attempt to escape from her ex-boyfriend, Azizollah Mazooni.
Mazooni hired a private investigator who located her in Seattle. Azizollah bought a semi-automatic pistol and drove a rental car from California to Seattle. He stopped at the registrar’s office where he obtained her class schedule by claiming to be Marjan. Azizollah waited outside of Denny Hall and confronted Marjan and her friend Ebrahim Sharif-Kashani. Azizollah shot and killed Marjan and Ebrahim then fled the scene.
Azizollah was apprehended by the University of Washington Police Department and was charged with two counts of aggravated first degree murder. Defense attorney James Roe told the jury in closing arguments that Azizollah was ``a man who only wanted to be with the woman he loved.'' He was convicted of two counts of second degree murder. Hundreds of students and others signed petitions asking the judge to impose a stiff sentence. Azizollah was sentenced to 17 years in prison and served 10 years 6 months. He was released from prison on January 18, 2001 at the age of 35."
December 14, 1979 - Larry Duerksen, 29 - Parington Lawn
"Larry Duerksen was a University of Washington library employee. On the night of December 14, 1979, Larry’s boyfriend, Roger Cutsinger, shot and killed him on the Parrington Hall lawn as they walked together under an umbrella in heavy rain. A few weeks prior to this, Roger had taken out a $500,000 life insurance policy on Larry.
Roger was arrested by the University of Washington Police Department one week after the murder and was charged and convicted of first degree murder. He was paroled in December 2002 at the age of 44 after serving 22 years in prison."
December 6, 1974- Juanita McCoy, 52 - Staff Services Building
"Juanita McCoy was shot and killed in her office in the Staff Services Building on Brooklyn by her estranged husband, Steven James McCoy. Steven was facing second-degree assault charges after an incident where he threatened Roberta with a knife.
Steven was apprehended by the Seattle Police Department a few days after the slaying. Steven plead guilty to first-degree murder. Steven McCoy became a victim of homicide himself when he was stabbed to death by fellow inmates after serving two years of his sentence."
April 3, 1973 - William J. Morris, 30 - Between Gowen and Savery
"Law student William J. Morris was shot and killed by fellow law student Jimi Wright, 26. Jimi dated William’s ex-wife for over a year. Jimi was abusive towards her during their relationship and she ended things with him after he broke into her home. When the relationship ended, she asked William to be with her when Jimi collected some of his belongings from her. During the exchange, Jimi grabbed his ex-girlfriends arm and attempted to drag her from the home. William intervened and Jimi fled the apartment after telling William “I’m going to get you and I’m going to get you on the street.” A few days later, Jimi confronted William as he walked between Gowen and Savery halls. He pulled a handgun from his backpack and shot and killed William.
Jimi was immediately apprehended by the University of Washington Police Department. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was paroled in 1978 after serving five years, two months of his sentence.
The Seattle Daily Times reported this as the first homicide in the history of the University of Washington." 
Just read Ann Rule Empty Promises. In her book Larry Duerksen was killed by boyfriend Gareth Leifbach. No mention of a Roger Cutsinger.
ReplyDeleteShe used a pseudonym for him. If you notice the 1st time he's mentioned, Gareth Leifbach has an asterisk after the name.
DeleteI have this book as well. Ann Rule frequently changes names in her books to protect identity or to proceed with the book without getting the consent of the murderer or just because it was requested. In this case it was very easy to find out the real murderer's name online.
ReplyDeleteMs Rule puts an asterisk by names that have been changed, as she did with Cutsinger's.
ReplyDelete