Brett Michael Gitchel charged with attempted murder – A 46-year-old man in Washington state has been arrested in connection with a bizarre series of alleged crimes, including the disappearance of still-missing 58-year-old Leticia Martinez-Cosman after she accompanied him to a Mariners game, the kidnapping and botched killing of Martinez-Cosman’s special-needs son, and a jewelry heist from a Seattle Costco.
Brett Michael Gitchel, who was first taken into custody on April 5, is now formally charged with first-degree attempted murder, first-degree kidnapping, and unlawful possession of a firearm for allegedly taking Martinez-Cosman’s 24-year-old son, Patrick Cosman, from his home and trying to strangle him to death on April 2, court records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Brett Michael Gitchel and Leticia Martinez-Cosman (Seattle Police Dept.)
Brett Michael Gitchel charged with attempted murder
Gitchel was also charged with one count each of first-degree theft and second-degree arson. The theft stems from $10,000 in jewelry allegedly being stolen from a Seattle Costco while the arson charge stems from Gitchel allegedly using an accelerant to torch Martinez-Cosman’s car less than 2 miles from where the Mariners play.
“Within a three days period, Brett Gitchel was the last person to be seen with Leticia Martinez-Cosman. Brett Gitchel would drive Leticia’s vehicle to a remote area outside Seattle for a short period of time the next day, kidnap and attempt to kill her son and burn Leticia’s vehicle,” documents filed in King County Superior Court state, according to Tacoma Fox affiliate KCPQ.
Investigators say that Gitchel and Martinez-Cosman were last seen together on the evening of March 31, attending a Seattle Mariners game at T-Mobile Park. Martinez-Cosman has not been seen or contacted by her family or friends since the game. She is described as being 5 foot 9 and weighing about 135 pounds with green eyes and brown hair.
Leticia Martinez-Cosman and Brett Gitchel (Seattle Police Dept.)
