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February 2, 2012 in City
In brief: Multiple counts sought in prostitute’s death
Spokane police are recommending murder, rape, robbery and kidnapping charges be filed against a sex offender suspected of killing a Spokane woman who was working as a prostitute last August.
Major crimes detectives have submitted the charging request for Derrick Ross Vargas, 24, to the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office, police said Wednesday.
Vargas, who has long been a suspect, is accused of raping and murdering Evon M. Moore, 48, whose body was found in an alley near North Ralph Street and East Riverside Avenue on Aug. 13.
Detectives were looking for clues from cars seen on surveillance video in the area when a Washington State Patrol trooper contacted Vargas during a traffic stop Sept. 23.
When they did, a woman jumped out of his truck and said Vargas had raped her. Detectives found a pair of shoes with blood on them in Vargas’ East Trent Avenue apartment that matched the shoe tread pattern found near Moore’s body. They also found a purse believed to belong to Moore, who was a student at Spokane Community College.
Vargas has been in jail since Sept. 23 on a rape charge for the alleged incident with another prostitute. He has not been formally charged in Moore’s death.
Meghann C. Cuniff
Woman faces felonies in death of pedestrian
A 21-year-old woman accused of leaving the scene of fatal drunken crash has been charged with two felonies.
Hannah K. Hahn, 21, remains in jail on $50,000 bond after appearing in Spokane County Superior Court Wednesday on charges of vehicular homicide and failure to remain at the scene of an accident in connection with the crash early Saturday that killed pedestrian Dennis Burgess, 47.
Police say Hahn smelled of alcohol and had “some small bottles of alcohol” on her when they stopped her 1999 Dodge Durango as it sped north on Market Street near Hawthorne Road about 2:17 a.m. Saturday.
Officers seized three cans of Mike’s Harder Blueberry Lemonade and a bag suspected to contain marijuana from the Durango, according to a search warrant filed Tuesday.
Burgess was struck on Market near East Providence Avenue.
Meghann C. Cuniff
Traffic to be limited on section of Grand
Grand Boulevard from 20th to 21st avenues will be reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction today.
Spokane wastewater workers will be doing repairs to a sewer line there. Work will start as early as 6 a.m.
Staff report
1992 murder trial begins against sex offender 
EthicsinLE on February 02 at 10:32 a.m.
Why must the SR repeatedly post the VICTIM was a prostitute? She is the victim, give her some dignity in death. The SR is a scab of a paper who always has to write of the past of victims even if not relevant to the issue. SR has no class or respect, just tries to dig up dirt on everyone to stay relevant. Prostitute or not, she deserves some dignity in death. Get some class SR.
liveinfearoftheSPD on February 02 at 9:05 p.m.
I am inclined to agree with you on this EthicsinLE.
DHF on February 03 at 9:40 a.m.
Where was all these cop’s when Otto Zehm was being killed by one of their out of control officers. Is there a different standard for ladies of the night verses former mental patients. Recommendations ?