Missing Seattle woman last seen at baseball game found strangled to death in woods

SEATTLE (TCD) -- The medical examiner’s office has positively identified a body found in the woods last week as a 58-year-old woman who disappeared after attending a Seattle Mariners baseball game.

According to KCPQ-TV, Seattle Police detectives located human remains Tuesday, April 11, in a wooded area in Renton. On Friday, April 14, the King County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the remains were those of Leticia Martinez-Cosman. She was strangled to death. KING-TV reports Martinez-Cosman was killed April 1.

Martinez-Cosman was last seen alive March 31 at T-Mobile Park, where she attended the Mariners game with a man named Brett Gitchel. She had not spoken to her family since that day, and they reported her missing. Two days after the game, on April 2, Martinez-Cosman’s vehicle was found burning near Lewis Park, KCPQ reports.

Hours before finding the car, a man allegedly tried to kidnap Martinez-Cosman’s son. Someone reportedly knocked on his bedroom door and said his mother was in the hospital. While in the car, the man, reportedly believed to be Gitchel, put a bag over the son’s head and tried to choke him. The son reportedly bit the suspect and was able to escape into the woods. KCPQ reports Gitchel had apparent bite marks on his hand when he spoke with police.

Seattle Police arrested Gitchel April 5 on suspicion of murder, kidnapping, theft, and assault. He is also believed to have stolen several thousands of dollars' worth of jewelry from a local Costco right before his arrest. King County Jail records show he’s being held on first-degree murder and several other charges with bail set at $5.05 million.

MORE:

• Medical examiner: Body found in Renton woods identified as Leticia Martinez, cause of death was strangulation - KCPQ
• Family confirms body found in Renton is Leticia Martinez, woman missing since Mariners game - KING
• Seattle Police Searching for Woman Missing After Attending Mariners Game - Seattle Police Department
• Seattle man arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with woman who went missing after Mariners game - TCD
• King County Jail inmate information