60 years later, Candy Rogers' murderer revealed

The rape and murder of 9-year-old Candy Rogers in 1959 shocked the community of Spokane, Washington. After 62 years, local police finally identified John Reigh Hoff as her killer.

Unrelenting determination coupled with advancing technology helped solve one of Spokane’s most heinous and haunting crimes: the rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl, 62 years ago. Learn more on @SpokanePD's website https://t.co/XPr0KkTzhfhttps://t.co/sLRMVL3iLR

— City of Spokane (@SpokaneCity) November 19, 2021

Hoff died in 1970, but his daughter helped police crack the case.

“I keep saying it’s the Mount Everest of our cold cases — the one that we could never seem to overcome, but at the same time nobody ever forgot,” said Sgt. Zac Storment of the Spokane Police Department during a press conference.

The case originated on March 6, 1959, when Rogers left her home to sell mints in a Spokane neighborhood around 4 p.m. That was the last time she was seen alive.

After a 16-day search, two hunters found Rogers' shoes northwest of Spokane. Later, the girl's body was found hidden in a pile of pine branches. The subsequent medical analysis determined that she was sexually assaulted and died of strangulation. `

The case remained unsolved for six decades, and Rogers’ parents died before the killer was finally revealed.

SPD detectives have solved a cold case murder from 1959. The killing of Candy Rogers, a 9 year old out selling campfire mints, rocked the Spokane community. Join us for a press conference on the case tomorrow - Fri. Nov. 19th - at 10am livestreamed on Facebook. pic.twitter.com/E8ltrVlMLW

— Spokane Police (@SpokanePD) November 19, 2021

Years later, investigators were able to isolate a DNA sample from bodily fluids found on the victim's clothing and in early 2021, Spokane police contacted Othram, a DNA lab that uses forensic genealogy. Using the DNA, a genealogical profile was constructed that helped narrow the list of possible suspects to three siblings, including John Reigh Hoff.

When Hoff's daughter learned that her father was a suspect in the case, she volunteered to give a sample of her own DNA to aid in the investigation. Lab results led to an order to exhume Hoff's body and further police analysis finally determined that he was Candy Rogers' killer.

“It is our hope that at least by solving this case it brings a measure of comfort and closure to the family and to the loved ones in this community as well,” said Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl.