The Murder of Mavis Kindness Nelson case summary
Navigate through the investigative process of the sexually motived homicide of a missing Native woman, who was murdered, dismembered, sexually assaulted by a necrophile, then discarded all while located in the Greek Housing area of the University of Washington in Seattle.
Some of the features of this case that will be covered in this presentation include:
- –DNA analysis – what the WSPCL can, cannot, and will not process and their timelines; private crime lab & SAKI options.
- –Covert/unwitting DNA collection
- –Fingerprints vs DNA processing
- –First officers on scene vs. CSI scene processing and its considerations.
- –DIY Cell phone & Google record analysis
- –Wooded search area in an urban location
- –Investigating a sex crime committed by a non-RSO living among RSOs
- –WA HITS & FBI ViCAP
- –FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit (BAU) consultation
- –Extensive and detailed interview of suspects, interview preparation, and tactics; knowing the history of the suspect
- –Video collection and analysis
- –Arrest planning, surveillance and undercover options
- –Information sharing considerations – both within and outside of LE; communication with victim’s family
- –Case organization and management
- –Working with medical examiner and prosecutors, plea negotiations, and more.
Presenters' Bios
Detective Josh Rurey
Detective Josh Rurey has been with the Seattle Police Department for 19+ years. His assignments have included uniformed patrol (2005-2008), Southwest Precinct Anti-Crime Team (2008-2009), Gang Unit detective (2009-2014), SWAT officer (2014-2020), and Homicide & Assault detective (2020-current). The SPD Homicide & Assault unit’s primary responsibility is homicide investigations but are also assigned non-death cases such as violent assaults. This case was his sole Missing/Murdered Indigenous Person case and sole sexually motived homicide investigation. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Crime & Justice Studies with a minor in Sociology from the University of Idaho.
Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Aubony Burns
She is a Senior Deputy Prosecutor in King County. She was hired by King County in August of 2013 and is currently in the Most Dangerous Offender Project, a criminal prosecution unit that responds to and vertically works murder cases from call out to trial. Prior to this position, Aubony spent time in the Sexually Violent Predator Unit, Homicide and Violent Crime Unit, Special Assault Unit, Felony Domestic Violence Unit, Felony Trials Unit, the Involuntary Treatment Act Unit, and the District Court Unit. Aubony earned her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of New Mexico. Prior to law school, Aubony spent over 7 years as a commissioned law enforcement officer in New Mexico.