The story of Joseph Garrett’s murder is more than 50 years in the making. His life ended on Jan. 4, making 71-year-old Garrett Seattle’s first homicide of 2026.
The shot that killed him was fired in 1973 outside of Garfield High School by a man who was never charged and who also is now dead, according to Seattle Police.
“We believe this is the longest delayed-death homicide that has happened in King County,” said Casey McNerthney, director of communications for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. “Delayed-death homicides, unfortunately, are relatively common. There are at least a few of them each year, but typically it’s [after] a few years or maybe even a decade.”…