Mom who disappeared after going on a date to see the Seattle Mariners was strangled to death: Cops charge man seen in her final selfie texted to family from the stands before she vanished
- Leticia Martinez-Cosman vanished from baseball game while she was on a date
- Her body was found in the Washington Woods last week. She died of asphyxia
A mother who has disappeared after going on a date to see a Seattle Mariners baseball game was found strangled to death – as police charge the man seen in her final selfie from the stands sent to her family before she vanished.
A body was found in Renton, in the Washington Woods last week, on April 13, and police have now identified the woman as Leticia Martinez-Cosman, 58.
The single mother was last seen on March 31 at the T-Mobile Park in Seattle, from where she sent her family a selfie with her date, Brett Gitchel, 46.
Gitchel was arrested on April 6 in connection with Martinez-Cosman’s disappearance and has since been charged with murder, kidnapping, unlawful possession of a firearm, theft and arson.
Her body was found just two miles away from where Gitchel allegedly attacked the victim’s adult son with special needs, Patrick Cosman.
A body was found in Renton, in the Washington Woods last week, on April 13, and police have now identified the woman as Leticia Martinez-Cosman (left), 58, who vanished from a Seattle Mariners baseball game while she was on a date. The mother of a son was last seen on March 31 at the T-Mobile Park in Seattle, from where she sent her family a selfie with her date, Brett Gitchel, 46 (right)
Gitchel (pictured) had been arrested on April 6 in connection with Martinez-Cosman’s disappearance and has since been charged with murder, kidnapping, unlawful possession of a firearm, theft and arson
Her body was found just two miles away from where Gitchel allegedly attacked the victim’s adult son with special needs, Patrick Cosman
Cosman was allegedly lured into a car by Gitchel with false claims his mother had been in an accident and was attacked there, but Cosman told the police he was able to fight off his attacker and escape.
Documents from the King County Prosecuting Attorney, which were seen by PEOPLE, said: ‘Brett Gitchel kidnapped her disabled son and attempted to strangle him to unconsciousness.
Her family also said on the GoFundMe page that Martinez-Cosman met Brett Gitchel at a Costco just days before her disappearance and decided to take him to see her favourite team, the Seattle Mariners, play
‘Two hours after the kidnapping and assault of her son, Leticia’s car was found burned from a fire started with accelerants in the passenger seat.’
An autopsy was conducted and the King County Medical Examiner’s Office said that Martinez-Cosman was strangled and died from asphyxia.
Her death was ruled a homicide and Gitchel is being held on a $5million bail.
Martinez-Cosman’s brother, Ricardo Martinez, told KIRO-TV: ‘I think it’s starting to hit me right now. But I’m trying to stay focused and get this resolved and then move on with what she had wanted to do.’
He added to KCPQ-TV: ‘I just want to see the person who did this, to get some justice for my sister and my nephew.’
The family has said about Martinez-Cosman’s son as part of a GoFundMe campaign: ‘Patrick has special needs and needs full-time care. Letty was his caretaker, and his life has been turned upside down.
‘Patrick will have extensive physical and mental health needs in the days and months ahead and we cannot do it alone.’
Her family also said on the GoFundMe page that Martinez-Cosman met Brett Gitchel at a Costco just days before her disappearance and decided to take him to see her favorite team, the Seattle Mariners, play.
