Police make arrest in 1987 murders of Victoria couple

EVERETT, Wash. – Police in Washington state say they have made an arrest in connection to the murders of a Victoria-area couple more than 30 years ago.

Eighteen-year-old Tanya Van Cuylenborg and her boyfriend, 20-year-old Jay Cook, were found dead near Seattle in November 1987.

Police say they have arrested 55-year-old William Earl Talbott from the Seattle-Tacoma area and he has been booked on one count of first-degree murder in the death of Van Cuylenborg.

Police say the suspect’s DNA collected at the scene of Van Cuylenborg’s murder was used to identify Talbott’s ancestors, which led them to him.

Officers say once genealogists made the connection, police acquired a DNA sample from a cup Talbott had used.

Snohomish County Sheriff Ty Trenary says the department never gave up hope in their investigation.

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