Candy Rogers cold case

The 1959 murder of Candy Rogers is one of the Spokane Police' most puzzling cold cases, with multiple suspects over the years.

Section:Gallery

Thu., Nov. 18, 2021

Childhood photo of Candice Rogers

Courtesy Photo
Candice “Candy” Rogers in an old family photo.

Handout Photo Photo Archive
Assistant Police Chief E.W. Parsons shows a few of the checks he received yesterday, swelling the reward total in the Candice Elaine Rogers case to $2240. That doesn't include offers that have been received by telephone only. It was a tough job keeping track of the total, Parsons said, because offers came in so fast.

Cowles Publishing
Three Fairchild air force base men who were killed in a helicopter crash last March while searching for missing 9-year-old Candy Rogers were remembered yesterday in special ceremonies dedicating new chapel equipment at Fairchild. A modernistic pulpit and matching lectern were dedicated to the memory of the men during Sunday services. Pictured above in the new pulpit is Major Jack Moses, base chaplain.

Cowles Publishing
When three airmen lost their lives in a helicopter crash searching for Candy Rogers, a group of Spokane men started a fund for their survivors. The idea Originated with members of the Spokane stero typers and Electro typers local 102.The Spokane falls Typographical union no 193 Spokane Newspaper pressmen's union local 33 and employees of the Spokane American Engraving company. Others joined in giving and the fund now totals $180 Presenting the collection to Col. Charles J. Beck base commander at Fairchild air force base are William Risteau, Chairman Paul C. Anderson and Joseph B Enders. Colonel Beck is second from right. Theme of the collection was "A Mint for the Men Who Gave their lives for Candy." The girl's Body was found.

Cowles Publishing
Spokane Police Detective Brian Hamond is the latest in generations of detectives to investigate the 1959 rape and murder of 9-year-old Candy Rogers. Hamond's predecessors assembled copious records, shown above, and preserved evidence that in 2001 yielded a genetic profile that could identify Rogers' killer. COLIN MULVANY The Spokesman-Review

Colin Mulvany
Dan Hite looks over his scrapbook of photos from the 1960's in his Springdale, Wash. home. The photos show him when he was active in the Spokane, Wash., motorcycle club. He is haunted by the thoughts that he suspected a member of the club was a prime suspect in the murder of several women in the area, including Candy Rogers. "Every time I think about it my guts get all churned up," said Hite. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review

Christopher Anderson
The photos of Dan Hite (center on motorcycle) from the 1960's when he rode his motorcycle all over the Spokane Wash. region are starting to fade but his memory of those times is still very sharp. Hite is convinced a member of the motorcycle club killed Candy Rogers and several other women in the Spokane area. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review

Christopher Anderson
The photos of Dan Hite (center in hat, right on bike) from the 1960's when he rode his motorcycle all over the Spokane Wash. region are starting to fade but his memory of those times is still very sharp. Hite is convinced a member of the motorcycle club killed Candy Rogers and several other women in the Spokane area. CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON The Spokesman-Review

Christopher Anderson
Sheriff Richard Badicke, Captain John Carter, Hugh Bion Morse, Deputy Dale Dunham. 12/22/79 PHOTO ARCHIVE The Spokesman-Review

Photo Archive
Hugh Bion Morse, 31, is led from a st. Paul Minn., courtroom after he was sentenced yesterday to two life terms in prison. Morse pleased guilty to second-degree murder in the rape slaying of Carol Robab, St. Paul, and burglarizing the woman's apartment. Judge Robert Rensch ordered the sentences to be consecutive, with Morse to begin the term for burgalry if he ever is paroled on the murder charge. Police say Morse also admitted slaying two women in Spokane and one in Birmingham, Ala. 12/16/61 PHOTO ARCHIVE The Spokesman-Review

Photo Archive
Sheriff's office Napa County, California mugshot of Hugh Bion Morse. This mugshot was taken in 1957 but ran on 8/29/61 The Spokesman-Review Archive

Courtesy Napa County Sheriff'S Dept
Hugh Bion Morse, 31, center, is led into the Federal Court Building last night in St. Paul after his arrest by FBI agents for arraignment on charges of unlawful flight from California to avoid prosecution there. At rear left is St. Paul Police Chief Lester E. McAuliffe and at right is William H. Williams, special agent in charge of the Minneapolis FBI Bureau. The latter said Morse has admitted killing two women in Spokane and one in St. Paul. 10/14/61 PHOTO ARCHIVE The Spokesman-Review

Photo Archive
Hugh Bion "Chris" Morse in a 1995 Minnesota Department of Corrections mug shot. Morse was a serial killer who died in prison in April 2003 at age 73. Morse left a trail of victims around the country before he was convicted of murdering a St. Paul, Minn., woman in 1961. He later admitted murdering two women in Spokane and nearly killing a third in 1959 and 1960. He denied killing Rogers, but was a prime suspect. Among other evidence, he lived within a few blocks of Rogers -- as with his admitted Spokane victims. Courtesy of Minnesota Department of Corrections

Courtesy Minnesota Dept Of Corrections