In a chilling development that highlights the relentless pursuit of justice, Mitchell Gaff, a 68-year-old convicted rapist, received a 50-year prison sentence for the brutal murders of two women in the 1980s. The case, which had remained cold for decades, was cracked open through a method both ingenious and bizarre: investigators collected DNA from a piece of discarded chewing gum.
A Deceptive Encounter
Gaff’s apprehension unfolded in a dramatic fashion. In January 2024, three undercover officers from the Everett Police Department infiltrated Gaff’s home under the guise of conducting market research for a fictional chewing gum company. This “gum ruse” involved the officers persuading Gaff to part with his used gum, unwittingly providing them with critical DNA evidence through his saliva.
Susan Logothetti, one of the officers involved, recounted the moment: “I remember watching him spit the first piece of gum into the ramekin and seeing the saliva; it was very hard for me to contain my excitement.” This carefully orchestrated operation marked a pivotal turn in a case that had long stymied investigators.
The Horrific Crimes
Gaff’s violent past included a conviction for raping two teenage sisters in 1984, which led to his DNA being entered into the national Combined DNA Index System. This connection facilitated his identification as a suspect in the murders of Susan Vesey and Judith Weaver.
Vesey’s lifeless body was discovered by her husband on July 12, 1980, while Weaver was found dead in her home on June 2, 1984, after a fire that Gaff had
