VIDEO: How Spokane police cracked 1959 cold case murder of Candy Rogers and identified her killer

SPOKANE, Wash. — Warning: This story contains graphic details about violence toward a child.

Spokane police say they know who is responsible for the 1959 killing of 9-year-old Candy Rogers, making it one of the oldest cold case murders solved in Washington state.

Candy Rogers was a member of the Blue Birds, which were younger members of Camp Fire Girls of America. The 9-year-old girl set out from her home in the 2100 block of West Mission Avenue in Spokane at about 4 p.m. on March 6, 1959 and was never seen again.

By 9 p.m. on March 6, volunteers had found a trail of Camp Fire mints boxes that led south across the Ft. George Wright Bridge. On the morning of March 7, all of Spokane was aware of the situation, police said during a press conference on Friday, Nov. 19.

Three airmen from Fairchild Air Force base were killed while searching for Rogers after their helicopter hit power lines. Two others were saved.

After 16 days of searching, two airmen from Fairchild were hunting off Old Trails Road, northwest of Spokane, and found Rogers' shoes on March 21, 1959. A search of that area found her body concealed in a pile of pine needles and tree boughs.

Cold case grows warmer over Labor Day weekend 2021

The cold case sprung to life again over Labor Day weekend 2021. On Sept. 6, 2021, the perpetrator’s name entered the case file, Spokane police said. Genealogists with Othram, a forensic laboratory, were able to narrow the list of subjects to three brothers: John Reigh, James Andrew and Terry Allen Hoff.

What we know about John Reigh Hoff

John Reigh Hoff was born on Aug. 11, 1938 and grew up on the 2500 block of West College Avenue, Spokane police said. He entered the Army at 17 and was assigned to the Nike Missiles site protecting Fairchild Air Force Base. John Reigh Hoff lived at 2211 W. Broadway Ave. on March 6, 1959, the day Rogers disappeared.

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