Officials Seek Information In Missing Women

Authorities investigating a string of unsolved murders are searching for two missing Spokane women with histories of prostitution.

City and county detectives said Tuesday they are seeking information about Linda Marie Maybin and Lois Jean Spicer, who have been reported missing by friends and relatives.

“Due to the number of prostitute murders we’ve had over the past eight or nine years, we’re concerned about their whereabouts,” police Lt. Jerry Oien said. “We’d just like to know where they are.”

Nine women who worked as prostitutes have been killed in the Spokane area since 1990, four in the past four months. Detectives have few leads in the murders, which some authorities think may be the work of a serial killer.

Maybin, 34, was last seen Nov. 22. Until her disappearance, she was “highly visible in both drug and prostitution activity in Spokane,” especially along East Sprague Avenue, police said.

She is white, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, 140 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes.

Spicer, 33, was last seen about four months ago. She was known to work as a prostitute along East Sprague and in the downtown area.

She is white, about 5 feet 3 inches tall, 130 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.

“There is nothing to indicate that they’ve met with foul play,” sheriff’s Lt. John Simmons said. “We’re just trying to cover all our bases.”

Two other women who detectives have been seeking in connection with the murders - 31-year-old Laurie Ann Wasson and 36-year-old Shawn L. Johnson - are still missing.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the missing women is asked to call Crime Check at 456-2233.

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