PASCO, WA – The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office announced the resolution of a decades-old cold case involving the 1971 homicide of Ivah McDonnell.

According to a press release issued on March 14, 2025, deputies responded to a residence in the 5000 block of Sylvester Street in December 1971, where McDonnell was found deceased in her home. The investigation at the time identified multiple suspects, but no arrests were made.

One of the suspects interviewed in the case was Samuel Evans, who was 33 years old at the time of the homicide. Evans had a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for murder, manslaughter, rape, and burglary across several states. In 2013, Evans died of natural causes while serving a sentence in Washington State for manslaughter charges related to murders from 1968 to 1972.

Forensic DNA evidence played a key role in linking Evans to McDonnell’s death. While initial submissions for DNA analysis were unsuccessful, advancements in forensic technology allowed investigators to resubmit evidence in 2022. In 2023, the Washington State Patrol’s Forensics section confirmed a DNA match to Evans from a ligature device used in the crime.

Investigators determined that Evans and McDonnell were connected through a mutual friend who is now deceased and lived near McDonnell’s residence.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office currently has 11 unresolved homicide cases, including several cold cases under review for potential forensic testing. McDonnell’s known relatives have been notified of the case resolution.