Timothy Burkhart
Washington State Serial Killer
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Pierce County, Washington
TIME PERIOD
1986-2001
VICTIMS
4 confirmed
The case involves Timothy Ray Burkhart, an American serial killer linked to the murders of at least two teenage girls and two women in Pierce County, Washington, between 1986 and 2001. Burkhart was identified as the prime suspect shortly before his suicide on July 2, 2001, and DNA evidence connected him to the earlier murders eight years after his death. The victims included 17-year-old Denise Sallee and 16-year-old Kimberly Payne, both last seen at the Paradise Village Bowl in Parkland. Despite initial investigations and tips naming Burkhart, the cases went cold until DNA advancements provided crucial links posthumously. The investigation remains open, with ongoing efforts to resolve the remaining cases associated with Burkhart.
Timothy Burkhart is believed to have been responsible for the murders of at least two teenage girls and two women in Pierce County, Washington, with investigators linking him to these crimes via DNA evidence after his death. There is speculation that Burkhart may have had additional unidentified victims, given the span of his criminal activity from 1986 to 2001. His suicide shortly after being named a prime suspect has led some to theorize that he may have been trying to evade capture for a longer history of violent crimes.
The Dark Trail of Timothy Burkhart: A Relentless Hunt for Truth
A Sinister Path Begins
In the quiet precincts of Pierce County, Washington, a chilling tale of murder and elusiveness unfolded over the span of fifteen years. This narrative is anchored by the actions of Timothy Ray Burkhart, born in 1966 in Parkland, Washington, whose life and death became entwined with the fates of at least four victims. His path of destruction began in 1986 and continued until his suicide on July 2, 2001, leaving a legacy of fear and unanswered questions.
The Murders
Denise Sallee
The year was 1986, and Denise 'Denny' Sallee, a 17-year-old high school dropout, vanished into the night on January 24th. After enjoying an evening at the Paradise Village Bowl bowling alley in Parkland, she was left alone by a friend. Her disappearance went unnoticed until the next day when her mother reported her missing. Initially, the authorities dismissed her case as just another runaway. It wasn't until March 26th that a grim discovery shattered this assumption—a man cleaning a vacant lot unearthed clothing beneath a log, and three days later, a young boy stumbled upon Sallee's decomposing body in the woods, partially buried and strangled.
The investigation quickly honed in on a mysterious figure known only as "Tim," who had been seen with Sallee on the night of her disappearance. Despite a facial composite and tips pointing towards Burkhart—albeit with misspelled names—the case grew cold, with authorities even momentarily suspecting the infamous Green River Killer.
Kimberly Payne
Later that same year, on October 6th, the lifeless body of 16-year-old Kimberly Ann Payne was found by children playing in a gravel pit near Parkland. Another runaway, Payne's last known location echoed that of Sallee—the Paradise Village Bowl. Despite a lead naming a "Kim Burkhard" as her companion, the trail ended in a dead end, and like Sallee's case, Payne's murder faded into the shadows, also dismissed as unrelated to the Green River Killer.
Kathryn Coates and Rebecca Nash
Fast forward to June 13, 2001. The tranquility of Summit, Washington was shattered when 72-year-old housewife Kathryn Coates was brutally bludgeoned to death in her own backyard. Her husband discovered her body upon returning from an errand. Witnesses spoke of a stranger lurking in the vicinity, but the police were left with little more than a composite sketch.
Two weeks later, the crime spree escalated. Rebecca Nash, a 48-year-old water delivery company employee, was found dead in her Tacoma apartment, a victim of apparent burglary. Her car, a 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier, was missing but later found abandoned a mile away. The lack of leads left investigators at a standstill.
The Unraveling
The turning point came when a relative of Burkhart tipped off Crime Stoppers, noting his resemblance to the suspect sketches and his presence near the crime scenes. Although Burkhart remained elusive, a search of locations he frequented revealed blood-stained clothes and stolen items from Nash's apartment, including a VCR. Furthermore, Burkhart had pawned Nash's ring under his real name, sealing the case against him.
With sufficient evidence in hand, authorities issued an arrest warrant and publicized his name. But the hunt for Burkhart ended in tragedy. Hours later, he was found dead in Parkland, a victim of a drug overdose. A suicide note lay beside him, though its contents remain sealed from public view. Blood traces on his body matched those of Coates, conclusively linking him to her murder.
The Cold Cases Revisited
In 2009, Detective Gene Miller of the Tacoma Police Department revisited the cold cases of Sallee and Payne. A persistent name surfaced in the reports, albeit with varying spellings, prompting Miller to utilize a software program to identify similar-sounding names. This digital sleuthing pointed him towards Timothy Ray Burkhart.
Miller's investigation revealed Burkhart's past involvement in a 1984 attempted kidnapping and his confirmed murders in 2001. DNA evidence from the cold cases was compared with Burkhart's profile in CODIS, resulting in a match that confirmed his role in the killings of Sallee and Payne. While suspicions linger regarding other unsolved cases, no further connections to Burkhart have been substantiated as of March 2025. Separate investigations eventually resolved the murders of Michella Welch and Jennifer Bastian, tying them to different perpetrators.
Conclusion
Timothy Ray Burkhart's story is one of evasion and eventual exposure, a dark chapter in the annals of American crime. His death closed the book on some mysteries, but questions linger about the full scope of his actions. As the world turns, so too does the tireless pursuit of justice, ensuring that even in the shadows, the truth will one day come to light.
Sources
- Piecing together the portrait of a serial killer
- Body found in woods that of Denise Sallee
- Police seeking killer of teenage girl
- Suspect in killing of woman found dead
- Police continue to link dead man to stranglings
- Piecing together the portrait of a serial killer
- Gary Hartman sentenced for 1986 Pierce County rape and murder
- Washington's New DNA Law Named for 2 Murdered Tacoma Girls
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Denise Sallee Disappears
17-year-old Denise Sallee goes missing after visiting a bowling alley.
Denise Sallee Found Dead
The body of Denise Sallee is discovered in the woods, identified by her clothes.
Kimberly Payne Found
16-year-old Kimberly Payne's body is found near a gravel pit.
Kathryn Coates Murdered
72-year-old Kathryn Coates is bludgeoned to death in her backyard.
Rebecca Nash Found Dead
48-year-old Rebecca Nash is found murdered in her apartment.
Burkhart Identified
Timothy Burkhart is identified as a suspect; he commits suicide hours later.
Burkhart's Body Found
Burkhart's body is discovered, and DNA links him to Coates' murder.
Link to Cold Cases
Detective Gene Miller links Burkhart to the murders of Sallee and Payne.
DNA Evidence Matched
DNA evidence from Sallee and Payne's cases matches Burkhart's DNA.
The case involves Timothy Ray Burkhart, an American serial killer linked to the murders of at least two teenage girls and two women in Pierce County, Washington, between 1986 and 2001. Burkhart was identified as the prime suspect shortly before his suicide on July 2, 2001, and DNA evidence connected him to the earlier murders eight years after his death. The victims included 17-year-old Denise Sallee and 16-year-old Kimberly Payne, both last seen at the Paradise Village Bowl in Parkland. Despite initial investigations and tips naming Burkhart, the cases went cold until DNA advancements provided crucial links posthumously. The investigation remains open, with ongoing efforts to resolve the remaining cases associated with Burkhart.
Timothy Burkhart is believed to have been responsible for the murders of at least two teenage girls and two women in Pierce County, Washington, with investigators linking him to these crimes via DNA evidence after his death. There is speculation that Burkhart may have had additional unidentified victims, given the span of his criminal activity from 1986 to 2001. His suicide shortly after being named a prime suspect has led some to theorize that he may have been trying to evade capture for a longer history of violent crimes.
The Dark Trail of Timothy Burkhart: A Relentless Hunt for Truth
A Sinister Path Begins
In the quiet precincts of Pierce County, Washington, a chilling tale of murder and elusiveness unfolded over the span of fifteen years. This narrative is anchored by the actions of Timothy Ray Burkhart, born in 1966 in Parkland, Washington, whose life and death became entwined with the fates of at least four victims. His path of destruction began in 1986 and continued until his suicide on July 2, 2001, leaving a legacy of fear and unanswered questions.
The Murders
Denise Sallee
The year was 1986, and Denise 'Denny' Sallee, a 17-year-old high school dropout, vanished into the night on January 24th. After enjoying an evening at the Paradise Village Bowl bowling alley in Parkland, she was left alone by a friend. Her disappearance went unnoticed until the next day when her mother reported her missing. Initially, the authorities dismissed her case as just another runaway. It wasn't until March 26th that a grim discovery shattered this assumption—a man cleaning a vacant lot unearthed clothing beneath a log, and three days later, a young boy stumbled upon Sallee's decomposing body in the woods, partially buried and strangled.
The investigation quickly honed in on a mysterious figure known only as "Tim," who had been seen with Sallee on the night of her disappearance. Despite a facial composite and tips pointing towards Burkhart—albeit with misspelled names—the case grew cold, with authorities even momentarily suspecting the infamous Green River Killer.
Kimberly Payne
Later that same year, on October 6th, the lifeless body of 16-year-old Kimberly Ann Payne was found by children playing in a gravel pit near Parkland. Another runaway, Payne's last known location echoed that of Sallee—the Paradise Village Bowl. Despite a lead naming a "Kim Burkhard" as her companion, the trail ended in a dead end, and like Sallee's case, Payne's murder faded into the shadows, also dismissed as unrelated to the Green River Killer.
Kathryn Coates and Rebecca Nash
Fast forward to June 13, 2001. The tranquility of Summit, Washington was shattered when 72-year-old housewife Kathryn Coates was brutally bludgeoned to death in her own backyard. Her husband discovered her body upon returning from an errand. Witnesses spoke of a stranger lurking in the vicinity, but the police were left with little more than a composite sketch.
Two weeks later, the crime spree escalated. Rebecca Nash, a 48-year-old water delivery company employee, was found dead in her Tacoma apartment, a victim of apparent burglary. Her car, a 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier, was missing but later found abandoned a mile away. The lack of leads left investigators at a standstill.
The Unraveling
The turning point came when a relative of Burkhart tipped off Crime Stoppers, noting his resemblance to the suspect sketches and his presence near the crime scenes. Although Burkhart remained elusive, a search of locations he frequented revealed blood-stained clothes and stolen items from Nash's apartment, including a VCR. Furthermore, Burkhart had pawned Nash's ring under his real name, sealing the case against him.
With sufficient evidence in hand, authorities issued an arrest warrant and publicized his name. But the hunt for Burkhart ended in tragedy. Hours later, he was found dead in Parkland, a victim of a drug overdose. A suicide note lay beside him, though its contents remain sealed from public view. Blood traces on his body matched those of Coates, conclusively linking him to her murder.
The Cold Cases Revisited
In 2009, Detective Gene Miller of the Tacoma Police Department revisited the cold cases of Sallee and Payne. A persistent name surfaced in the reports, albeit with varying spellings, prompting Miller to utilize a software program to identify similar-sounding names. This digital sleuthing pointed him towards Timothy Ray Burkhart.
Miller's investigation revealed Burkhart's past involvement in a 1984 attempted kidnapping and his confirmed murders in 2001. DNA evidence from the cold cases was compared with Burkhart's profile in CODIS, resulting in a match that confirmed his role in the killings of Sallee and Payne. While suspicions linger regarding other unsolved cases, no further connections to Burkhart have been substantiated as of March 2025. Separate investigations eventually resolved the murders of Michella Welch and Jennifer Bastian, tying them to different perpetrators.
Conclusion
Timothy Ray Burkhart's story is one of evasion and eventual exposure, a dark chapter in the annals of American crime. His death closed the book on some mysteries, but questions linger about the full scope of his actions. As the world turns, so too does the tireless pursuit of justice, ensuring that even in the shadows, the truth will one day come to light.
Sources
- Piecing together the portrait of a serial killer
- Body found in woods that of Denise Sallee
- Police seeking killer of teenage girl
- Suspect in killing of woman found dead
- Police continue to link dead man to stranglings
- Piecing together the portrait of a serial killer
- Gary Hartman sentenced for 1986 Pierce County rape and murder
- Washington's New DNA Law Named for 2 Murdered Tacoma Girls
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Denise Sallee Disappears
17-year-old Denise Sallee goes missing after visiting a bowling alley.
Denise Sallee Found Dead
The body of Denise Sallee is discovered in the woods, identified by her clothes.
Kimberly Payne Found
16-year-old Kimberly Payne's body is found near a gravel pit.
Kathryn Coates Murdered
72-year-old Kathryn Coates is bludgeoned to death in her backyard.
Rebecca Nash Found Dead
48-year-old Rebecca Nash is found murdered in her apartment.
Burkhart Identified
Timothy Burkhart is identified as a suspect; he commits suicide hours later.
Burkhart's Body Found
Burkhart's body is discovered, and DNA links him to Coates' murder.
Link to Cold Cases
Detective Gene Miller links Burkhart to the murders of Sallee and Payne.
DNA Evidence Matched
DNA evidence from Sallee and Payne's cases matches Burkhart's DNA.