Police: Investigation into missing woman leads to recovery of unidentified body in Renton

RENTON, Wash. — Seattle police detectives say their investigation into Leticia Martinez-Cosman — the missing King County woman who was last seen at a Mariners game — has resulted in the recovery of a body.

Detectives said the body was recovered Tuesday afternoon in the Renton area.

“Two big vans, a coroner, and about eight police cars,” said Steve, who lives in the neighborhood.

Residents who live off Southeast 192nd Street say police blocked off the street and crowded the dead end for hours.

“Big trucks came down with the guys in the white suits to investigate. One of the police said, yeah, they found a body,” said Steve.

The person whose body was found has not been identified. Police said the King County Medical Examiner’s Office will confirm their identity, cause of death and how the person died.

“Never expected anything like that would happen here. Yeah, just kind of shocked,” said Tyler Sorensen.

Martinez-Cosman, 58, was last seen leaving a Mariners game with Brett Gitchel on Mar. 31.

Gitchel is charged with arson, theft, possession of a firearm, kidnapping and attempted murder for allegedly trying to kill Martinez-Cosman’s disabled adult son.

According to charging documents, Gitchel picked up Martinez-Cosman’s son on April 2, claiming she had been in an accident. The son told investigators that after hours of driving around, 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.

About two hours later, Seattle firefighters were called to a car that was engulfed in flames. That vehicle was traced back to Martinez-Cosman. Investigators say they found surveillance video showing Gitchel buying the tools needed to set the vehicle on fire.

Gitchell has not been charged with the disappearance of Martinez-Cosman.

“Just keep holding on hope, were all hoping and praying for them,” said Sorensen.

Detectives said cell tower data shows that Gitchel had been in the places where the crimes happened.

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Investigators took photographs of Gitchel’s hands that showed cuts, scrapes and bruises that could indicate a struggle of some kind. They also found blood on the inside of his right shoe.

Martinez-Cosman has not been found and Gitchel has not been charged in her disappearance.

Gitchel initially told detectives he didn’t know Martinez-Cosman, but prosecutors said there is video of the two of them leaving T-Mobile Park.

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