Police Identify Body As Missing Man

Fri., July 16, 1999

From Staff

The body found by a television news crew in southeast Spokane on Wednesday is that of a suspected cop killer, sheriff’s deputies said Thursday.

Medical examiners used fingerprints Thursday to confirm that the corpse is that of Ted E. Kirby, deputies said.

They also determined that Kirby, 54, probably died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound from a .25-caliber pistol.

Kirby was a retired Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who moved to Spokane about three years ago.

He disappeared from his immaculate home near 16th and Carnahan on June 30, shortly after Los Angeles detectives investigating a 14-year-old murder came to Spokane to collect a saliva sample from him.

California investigators believe he shot a fellow officer to death in June 1985. The two men were reportedly romantically involved with the same woman at the time of the shooting.

Earlier this year, authorities used DNA evidence to connect Kirby with the crime.

A warrant was issued for Kirby’s arrest Monday. It charged him with capital murder.

Kirby reportedly was despondent and carrying his pistol when he disappeared. His body was found in a pasture about three blocks from his house.

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