SEATTLE — For the first time, the authorities have released a photograph of a torched car belonging to a woman who hasn’t been seen for 10 days.
Prosecutors say that woman was last seen with Brett Michael Gitchel at a Mariners game.
Gitchel was formally charged with trying to kill the woman’s disabled son. But he has yet to be charged Leticia Martinez-Cosman’s disappearance.
Documents indicate investigators believe Gitchel knows what happened to this missing mother.
The latest court documents paint a chilling picture of what allegedly happened in the hours and days after 58-year-old Leticia Martinez-Cosman took a selfie at a Seattle Mariners Game.
The man sitting with her, now charged with trying to murder her disabled adult son two days later.
“These are the crimes we think we can show and prove beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Casey McNerthney, spokesman for the King County Prosecutor.
He says that is why there no charges related to Martinez-Cosman’s disappearance — at least not yet.
“Additional charges may come if we get additional information from Seattle police,” McNerthney said. “And we know Seattle police are working on this case as we speak.”
According to the documents, Gitchel picked up Martinez-Cosman’s son on April 2, claiming she had been in an accident. After hours of driving around, the son told investigators, they ended up in Renton where Gitchel tried to strangle him. He escaped, called his father who lives in Texas who, in turn, called 911.
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Some two hours later, Seattle Fire were called to a car that was engulfed in flames. That vehicle traced back to Martinez-Cosman. Photographs show just how extensive the damage was. Investigators found surveillance video showing Gitchel buying the tools needed to set the vehicle alight.
Moreover, they took photographs of Gitchel’s hands showing cuts, scrapes and bruises that could indicate a struggle of some kind. They also found blood on the inside of his right shoe.
What they haven’t found, since she was at a Mariners Game, is any trace of Martinez-Cosman who depends on medication for her diabetes.
Her ex-husband spoke by telephone. He said he doesn’t want to talk on camera just yet.
His main priority is his son. And he is still holding onto hope his ex-wife will be found soon and found alive.
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