SPOKANE, Wash. — The retrial of Richard Aguirre, the former Pasco police officer accused of murder could enter closing arguments as soon as Tuesday morning. KREM 2 has had crews in the courtroom over the last few weeks tracking the developments in the trial.
Aguirre is charged with first-degree murder in the strangling of a sex worker in 1986. 27-year-old Ruby Doss’ body was found near the old Playfair Horse tracks in Spokane in 1986. Aguirre stood trial for the murder in 2021, but a mistrial was declared after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
Investigators believe Doss and Aguirre had "a sexual encounter" that turned into a physical altercation, according to court documents. Detectives believe Doss drew her knife at some point, but was disarmed and ran away to the area where her body was later found.
Police said they found Doss' belongings in a manure pit. They also found a steak knife and a used condom, all of which was sent to a DNA lab in 1989 and again in 2001. Neither test returned any matches.
In 2015, a forensic scientist notified investigators that the DNA from the condom found near Doss’ belongings was a match for Aguirre, according to court documents.
Prosecutors charged Aguirre with murder in 2016 but dropped the charges one year later after they determined there was not enough evidence to convict him.
In 2021, Aguirre stood trial for the murder. After several weeks of testimony, the jury could not return a unanimous verdict, and the judge declared a mistrial.
Aguirre's retrial was set to begin in March 2022 but was delayed several times as the prosecution needed more time to construct its case. During this time, Aguirre waived his right to a jury trial and instead allowed Spokane County Judge Jeremy Schmidt to decide his case. He also filed a motion to exclude certain testimony, including his trial and acquittal on a rape charge in Franklin County and any references to him being called a "choker" by former sexual partners.
The retrial began on November 27, 2023.
Aguirre is charged with first-degree murder but could potentially be found guilty of a lesser charge, such as manslaughter or second-degree murder. He faces up to life in prison if found guilty.
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