Tammy Vincent, the victim (an actual photo shown bottom-right alongside forensic reconstructions) — Credit: editorial-use
Tammy A. Vincent grew up on a farm in Okanogan County, Washington. Described as adventurous, she ran away from home repeatedly during her teenage years, and in 1978 she left for good, eventually living in Seattle, where she was exploited in prostitution as a teenager.
In August 1979, Vincent was detained in a vice police raid. In exchange for immunity, she agreed to testify against five men under investigation by King County, Washington authorities in a prostitution and racketeering case. She was relocated for her protection but was located and returned to the men's control. She was last seen in Seattle on September 10, 1979. The following day, a King County judge signed an order naming her a material witness; she never appeared in court.
Vincent is believed to have been taken to San Francisco. On the morning of September 26, 1979, her body was found on a beach at Blackie's Pasture in Tiburon, California. She had been attacked in a nearby parking lot, set on fire, and fatally shot; her injuries left her unidentifiable at the time. Evidence, including items purchased at a San Francisco store, was left at the scene.
Because her remains could not be identified, examiners recorded only basic physical characteristics. In 2002 her body was exhumed for further examination, and in 2007 DNA was matched to Vincent's mother and sister, confirming her identity 28 years after her death. Her ashes were returned to her family in Washington by a detective who had worked the case. It had been speculated that her death might be connected to the Green River killings, but the case remains officially unsolved.
Tammy Vincent leaves home, later ending up in a foster home in Spokane, Washington.
1979-08
Vincent is arrested in a Seattle vice police raid and agrees to testify against five men in a prostitution and racketeering case in exchange for immunity.
1979-09-10
Vincent is last seen alive in Seattle, getting into a car owned by one of her employers.
1979-09-11
A King County Superior Court judge signs a protective order naming Vincent a material witness.
1979-09-26
Joggers discover Vincent's body on a beach at Blackie's Pasture in Tiburon, California.
2002
Vincent's body is exhumed and sent to Richmond, Virginia for further forensic examination.
2007
DNA testing matches remains to Vincent's mother and sister, identifying her 28 years after death.
2007-08-07
Vincent is cremated; her ashes are later returned to her family in Washington.
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Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
VIDEO
Georgia Marie / 20 min
WHAT HAPPENED TO TAMMY VINCENT? | MIDWEEK MYSTERY
People
Tammy A. Vincent
VICTIM
Teenage runaway and material witness in a Seattle prostitution/racketeering case, murdered in September 1979; body unidentified until 2007.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Archival records
portrait victim
Tammy Vincent, the victim (an actual photo shown bottom-right alongside forensic reconstructions)
A teenage runaway and material witness in a Seattle prostitution and racketeering case, Tammy Vincent was murdered in September 1979 on a Tiburon, California beach; her body went unidentified for 28 years until DNA testing matched her to family members in 2007. The case remains officially unsolved.
