PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — More than 17 years after Linda Malcom’s tragic murder and the subsequent fire that engulfed her home, her family continues to seek justice. The case, which has haunted the Kitsap County community since 2008, is receiving renewed attention thanks to emerging evidence and the commitment of civilian investigators.
In the early hours of April 30, 2008, firefighters responded to a blaze that rapidly consumed Malcom’s rental property on Sidney Avenue. Amidst the wreckage, they discovered her remains, which were initially unrecognizable. Investigators later determined that Malcom had suffered 24 stab wounds before her home was intentionally set ablaze, signaling a brutal and calculated act.
“This was not just a murder; it was an attempt to erase all traces of what happened,” said Cindy Booker, Malcom’s sister. “They didn’t want evidence left behind—no fingerprints, nothing.” Malcom, 47 at the time of her death, was a Navy veteran known for her vibrant spirit and her role as the beloved “cool aunt.”
The devastating news reached her nephew, Mike Booker, during his deployment in Iraq. “It hit hard,” he recalled, adding that he felt helpless being so far away. After returning home, he connected with Jen Bucholtz, a cold case investigator and professor, who has devoted herself to helping families like his.
Motivated by his personal loss, Mike Booker responded to a flyer from Bucholtz seeking cold cases for her students to investigate. Together, they have painstakingly revisited the evidence and timeline of the case, exploring the possibility that more than one perpetrator may have been involved. “Stabbing someone 24 times is intensely personal,” Bucholtz remarked. “The arson, however, feels methodical, which suggests different people might be involved.”
Witness accounts from the night of the fire included sightings of a man in shorts leaving the area near Malcom’s home. However, authorities have yet to verify any connection between the man and the crime. With two and a half years invested in this reinvestigation, Bucholtz and her team are optimistic about finally solving the case.
Bucholtz also founded a nonprofit organization, Break The Case, aimed at bringing attention to unsolved crimes, including Malcom’s. “There’s someone out there who knows something,” Cindy Booker stated resolutely. “I won’t stop fighting for my sister. We won’t let this go.”
While the family longs for resolution, they understand that finding Malcom’s killer won’t erase their grief. “When that day comes,” Cindy Booker added, “we’ll visit her grave and our parents’ graves to tell them: we didn’t stop.”
The Port Orchard Police Department has reaffirmed its commitment to resolving the case. A recent statement from the department emphasized active efforts to reassess evidence, particularly as advancements in forensic technology offer new avenues for investigation. “Justice for Ms. Malcom remains a top priority for us,” the statement said.
Anyone with information regarding Linda Malcom’s murder is urged to contact the Port Orchard Police Department’s General Investigation Unit at (360) 876-1700 or via email at police@portorchardwa.gov.